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Senior Lauren Hutchinson is one of four Clarkson players that ranks in the top 10 in the Liberty League in hitting percentage.

Women's Volleyball October 1, 2015

CU Volleyball Weekend Preview - Liberty League Weekend #2

It's been nearly two weeks since the Clarkson University Volleyball team last saw game action, but the memories will be clear for at least two opponents this weekend when the Golden Knights return to conference action at Rochester on Friday and Saturday.

The Golden Knights, ranked 18th in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll, are 12-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play. This weekend the Green and Gold will face RIT and Bard on Friday before facing Vassar and St. Lawrence on Saturday.

Clarkson upped its overall game during the Liberty League's opening weekend, at least according to the numbers. The team still leads the conference in hitting percentage (.241), assists per set (12.19) and kills per set (13.26), with all of those numbers growing when held to just the four conference matches. Two-time Liberty League Player of the Week Aishvina Arasu is second in the conference in both kills per set (3.47) and hitting percentage (.352), and she enjoyed an outstanding opening weekend with a .455 hitting percentage. Classmate Danielle Farabee was nearly as impressive with a .434 hitting percentage the last time out, and she leads the conference with a .356 hitting percentage to go along with her 27 blocks. Senior setter Kirstie Shurie remains atop the leaderboard in assists with 10.68 while freshman Tara Stilwell has contributed 4.40 digs and 22 aces thus far. Reigning conference player of the year Victoria Kirkemo recorded 12 of her season-total 30 aces against league foes last time out.

RIT (10-7, 0-0) has yet to play a conference match this year and will open up with Clarkson, a rematch of last season's Liberty League Championship. Many of the same names return from that match as Sarah Szybist leads the league in kills (3.95 per set) and Laiz Novaes is adding in 2.62 kills per set. Erin Parkinson is the team's setter and is averaging 8.20 assists per set while Amy Van Hienan leads the squad with 28 aces. Defensively, seven differen tplayers are averaging better than two digs per set and Kayla Wheeler is among the Liberty League leaders with 0.72 blocks per set. 

Bard (8-8, 0-4) is much improved from last year, but the Raptors are still looking to break through with their first conference victory. Clarkson held the Raptors to 25 total points in the last meeting. Sofia Koukia is third in the conference in kills per set (3.30), but was held to just four total in the first meeting against the Knights. Tytravia Riley ranks second with 1.76 kills, while VIctoria Chou is the Raptors' leader in assists (7.15 per set) and aces (36 total). Philippine Alba is the team leader in digs with 3.04 per set.

Saturday's games will feature a rematch versus Vassar (7-6, 2-2), a team that Clarkson has beaten 16 straight times dating back to 2008 (which incidentally ended a losing streak of 11 straight matches to the Brewers). Devan Gallagher and Gabby Miller are the top offensive threats for the Brewers with 2.89 and 2.70 kills per set, respectively, and Miller is also the team leader with 26 aces and 27 blocks. Sophia Tiajoloff and Annie McMillan have split time at setter and both are averaging right around seven assists per set, while Chloe Hallum leads the squad with 3.79 digs per set.

Though Clarkson won the first six all-time meetings against St. Lawrence (9-9, 3-1) starting back in 1976, the two teams haven't been even in the all-time meetings department since 1983 when the Saints took over. The Golden Knights have a chance to even things up on Saturday with their potential ninth straight win against St. Lawrence. Clarkson hasn't lost to the Saints since 2010 and has lost just a single set in that span. Lexi Brown leads the team with 2.77 kills while Cristina Deschaine is second with 2.19 kills and a league-leading 57 blocks. Masha Kolesnikova also contributes 2.10 kills per set and is the team-leader with 32 aces. Katie Kull runs the team's offense with 9.06 assists per set, second-best in the conference, and Mariah Dignan is the team's leader with 4.54 digs per set.

 
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Players Mentioned

Aishvina Arasu

#5 Aishvina Arasu

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Danielle Farabee

#13 Danielle Farabee

MH
5' 10"
Senior
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

OH
5' 9"
Senior
Kirstie Shurie

#17 Kirstie Shurie

S/L
5' 5"
Senior
Tara Stilwell

#12 Tara Stilwell

DS
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Aishvina Arasu

#5 Aishvina Arasu

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Danielle Farabee

#13 Danielle Farabee

5' 10"
Senior
MH
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

5' 9"
Senior
OH
Kirstie Shurie

#17 Kirstie Shurie

5' 5"
Senior
S/L
Tara Stilwell

#12 Tara Stilwell

5' 9"
Freshman
DS