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Clarkson University Athletics

hutchlauren
Senior Lauren Hutchinson hit .469 with 24 kills and four blocks on Saturday for the Golden Knights.

Women's Volleyball September 5, 2015

Knights Split on Day Two of Roger Williams Invitational

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Bristol, RI - The statsheet easily could have read as a sweep, but the Clarkson University Volleyball team settled for a split on day two of the Roger Williams Invitational, falling to Berry College in three-tightly contested sets before rallying for a three-set sweep of host Roger Williams University on Saturday.

The Golden Knights, ranked 13th in the country in the pre-season AVCA Poll, moved to 5-1 on the season and will return to action next weekend with another challenging tourament at the Juniata Invitational.

In the first match of the day, Clarkson was challenged by Berry College, a team that has seen its way into the NCAA Tournament as recently as 2013, and the Vikings came away with a three-set sweep (26-24, 25-21, 29-27). In the first and third sets, the Golden Knights were in the position of serving for the game, while in the second set the team hit .412 with just one error, yet Clarkson was unable to come away with even one set.

"Today was a great day for getting better," Clarkson head coach Johan Dulfer said. "I thought Berry was every bit as good as we thought coming; they swung hard and dug more balls than anyone we have seen in a long time. I hope we learend that one or two points and decisions can swing a match. I felt like we got away from our game plan in a few crucial moments and that was the difference. We served for two of the sets and hit over .400 with 15 kills in the other. I hope that down the road those types of situations go in our favor."

Senior Lauren Hutchinson began an outstanding all-around day with 14 kills and just one error in 27 swings against the Vikings, while classmate Aishvina Arasu added in 13 kills with three errors in 13 attempts. Senior Kirstie Shurie had 32 assists and a pair of aces, while Sierra Rhoades and Victoria Kirkemo contributed 11 and 10 digs, respectively. For Berry, Katie O'Rourke delivered 16 kills with only one error in 26 attempts, while Katie Truluck and Emily Stromberg kept rallies going with a combined 38 digs in three sets. Lauren Schmitz had 35 assists.

Despite the disappointment of their first loss of the season, the Golden Knights quickly regrouped to sweep host Roger Williams in three straight (25-20, 25-19, 25-16). Hutchinson struck for 10 kills with no errors in 22 attempts while Kirkemo added eight kills, 10 digs and a pair of aces. Rachael Aird and Danielle Farabee produced in the middle to the tune of a combined 13 kills on 26 swings with just four errors between them, and Farabee also added in three blocks. Shurie again ran the offense with 26 assists and contributed a pair of aces, and freshman Tara Stilwell led the team with 13 digs. For Roger Williams, Elizabeth Flaherty had 11 kills, Nicole Weber produced 26 assists and Maria Batas had 22 digs. 

"The second match was a great way to use our lessons learned right away," Dulfer added. "I thought we served extremely effectively and ran a more balanced attack. But most of all we stuck to our game plan as it evolved during the match. I am very proud of how the girls bounced back, especially given how good our opponent was."
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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
Danielle Farabee

#13 Danielle Farabee

MH
5' 10"
Senior
Lauren Hutchinson

#4 Lauren Hutchinson

OH/RS
5' 9"
Senior
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

OH
5' 9"
Senior
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
Danielle Farabee

#13 Danielle Farabee

5' 10"
Senior
MH
Lauren Hutchinson

#4 Lauren Hutchinson

5' 9"
Senior
OH/RS
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

5' 9"
Senior
OH
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