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Clarkson University Athletics

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Senior setter Kirstie Shurie had 37 assists in the three-set win over Susquehanna. - Photo by Connor Koehler

Women's Volleyball October 10, 2015

Knights Open Home Tournament with 10th Straight Victory

Box Score
Potsdam, NY - Fifteen kills from Aishvina Arasu headlined a .337 hitting percentage by the Clarkson University Volleyball team as the Golden Knights opened up their own tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Susquehanna University Saturday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights, ranked 18th in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll, improved to 17-3 with their 10th straight win, while the Crusaders fell to 14-8. In the other match of the day, Muhlenberg defeated SUNY Canton in four sets.

GOLDEN KNIGHT INVITATIONAL PAGE

Clarkson 3, Susquehanna 0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-14)
Though the match went just three sets, the late night meeting between the Golden Knights and Susquehanna was filled with long rallies as both teams defense dug in when needed. However, Clarkson just had too much firepower from several spots on the court and was able to get points when needed. The Knights trailed through much of the first set, but came back to tie the score at 18-18. From there, Katrina Lane delivered a pair of kills to break the knot and Tara Stilwell produced a pair of aces before Susquehanna ended the five-point run. Kills by Rachael Aird and Victoria Kirkemo gave Clarkson the win. In the second set, Susquehanna led by three late (22-19), but Clarkson came out of a timeout and pushed back to tie the score at 23-23. A kill by Aishvina Arasu gave Clarkson a brief advantage, but was met with a kill from the Crusaders' Morgan Whiteman, forcing extra points. Clarkson edged back out by one on a kill by Kirkemo, but again Susquehanna had an answer with a surprise dump kill. Aird responded by pounding a kill down on the sideline and the Crusaders were whistled for a ball-handling error to end the set. The third set was less in doubt as several key players produced strong swings to give the Knights a solid advantage early. Up by double digits late, Sierra Rhoades ended the set and the match with an ace to seal the three-set win for Clarkson.

"I thought Susquehanna was very gritty, especially defensively," Clarkson head coach Johan Dulfer remarked. "They challenged us to play every point a number of times and I'm very grateful that we got to play a good opponent like that to start the tournament. It just feels so good to be back in our own gym, in front of our own fans, and we look forward to more good volleyball tomorrow."

Clarkson hit .337 for the match, thanks in large part to a 15-0-32 line from Arasu. Not to be outdone was Kirkemo, who had half the swings of her teammate, but a .500 hitting percentage (8-0-16). Aird hit similarly (8-1-16) and Lane also produced five kills with just a single miscue in 19 attempts. Senior setter Kirstie Shurie used her options well with 37 assists, while Stilwell had team-highs with 12 digs and three aces.

Muhlenberg 3, SUNY Canton 1 (25-11, 15-25, 25-23, 25-12)
It took SUNY Canton a set to figure out its offense without a couple of its top players, but the Roos were able to find themselves to make the Mules work to four sets. In the opener the Mules jumped out quickly with plenty of offense from both the outside and the service line by Katherine Boll. The Mules cruised to a first-set victory before the Roos discovered some incredible defensive intensity and an answer for the Muhlenberg block in the second set, coming away with a convincing set-victory of their own. The third set was the most interesting of the match as the two teams jostled back and forth throughout. With the set tied at 23-23 late, the Mules got kills from Sarah Weyhmuller and Allison Glass to close out the game and take a 2-1 advantage. Muhlenberg maintained its momentum from the third set to the start of the fourth, dominating SUNY Canton with the first eight points. Though the Roos eventually pulled to within five, they simply didn't have an answer for the Mules as Muhlenberg closed out the set by double figures.

Glass finished with 14 kills and 12 digs to lead Muhlenberg, while Boll added 11 kills, three aces and four blocks. Shannon Hubert ran the Mules offense with 33 assists, and also contributed three aces and 16 digs, matching the defensive total of Chelsea Kaser. For Canton, Kelly Cornish and Haley Riley each delivered 11 kills and Peyton Robinson produced 30 assists. Robyn Carroll was particularly impressive on the back line with 25 digs. Lindsay Bryer produced 17 digs and Cornich also tossed in 11 digs. 
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Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

OH/MH/RS
6' 0"
Sophomore
Aishvina Arasu

#5 Aishvina Arasu

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

OH
5' 9"
Senior
Katrina Lane

#14 Katrina Lane

RS
5' 10"
Junior
Sierra Rhoades

#8 Sierra Rhoades

OH
5' 9"
Junior
Kirstie Shurie

#17 Kirstie Shurie

S/L
5' 5"
Senior
Tara Stilwell

#12 Tara Stilwell

DS
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

6' 0"
Sophomore
OH/MH/RS
Aishvina Arasu

#5 Aishvina Arasu

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

5' 9"
Senior
OH
Katrina Lane

#14 Katrina Lane

5' 10"
Junior
RS
Sierra Rhoades

#8 Sierra Rhoades

5' 9"
Junior
OH
Kirstie Shurie

#17 Kirstie Shurie

5' 5"
Senior
S/L
Tara Stilwell

#12 Tara Stilwell

5' 9"
Freshman
DS