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Clarkson University Athletics

CU Volleyball Heading to Brockport for NCAA Regionals

By: November 7, 2016
2016ChampsVB
The Golden Knights won their fifth straight conference title on Saturday. - Photo courtesy of Vassar Athletics

Women's Volleyball | 11/7/2016 3:43:00 PM

In the past three years, even if the Clarkson University Volleyball team lost its conference championship game, which it never did, there was always the fallback of an at-large bid that seemed guaranteed since the Golden Knights were ranked among the nation's elite all season long. Following a six-game losing streak prior to post-season play, the Golden Knights didn't seem to have that back-up plan, and earnestly assured themselves of a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight year by winning both of their matches in the Liberty League Tournament to gain a fifth straight conference title. 

143582016 Clarkson Volleyball Notes (PDF)

Brockport Regional webpage

NCAA Division III Volleyball Bracket







The reward for the Liberty League Championship? The Golden Knights will head to Brockport in hopes of reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals for a fifth straight year. Clarkson will take on Susquehanna University in the opening match of the first round of the NCAA Tournament, with opening serve coming at 12:30 pm. Clarkson joins Susquehanna, Brockport, Emory, Gallaudet, Ithaca, Middlebury and New Rochelle at the Brockport Regional. 

The Golden Knights went 0-3 against the Brockport Regional field in 2016, dropping three-set decisions against Emory, Ithaca, and Friday's opponent, Susquehanna.  However, the River Hawks didn't face Clarkson at full strength as starting setter was nursing a wrist injury during the second day of matches at the Emory National Invitational in late-October. Regardless, Susquehanna (31-7), who earned entrance into the tournament via an at-large nod, will be a tough match up for the Knights (21-14).  The two teams have plenty of recent familiarity, having played one another twice in the last two seasons. Susquehanna won this year's match, but Clarkson swept the River Hawks in 2015. 

Though Clarkson has ample experience in the NCAA Tournament, the Golden Knights are nevertheless a very young team with just two seniors and one junior. The offense is led by the lone junior on the team, middle hitter Rachael Aird, who is averaging 3.56 kills per set with a .290 hitting percentage. Fellow middle hitter Rachel Reusch, a freshman, led the Liberty League with a .342 hitting percentage and is also averaging better than two kills per set. Senior Katrina Lane had a big conference tournament, including a 20-kill performance in the four-set championship match, upping her average to 2.11 kills per set.  Sophomore setter Jillian Saenz averages 9.49 assists per set and is the team leader with 37 aces. On defense is where Clarkson has truly excelled in 2016 as the team led the Liberty League in opponents' hitting percentage (.147) and digs per set (18.01) while ranking second in the conference in blocks per set (1.68). Both Aird and Reusch ranked in the top four in the conference in blocks per set, while Kate Isaksen shoulders the load in the back row with 5.94 digs per set, which ranks 13th in the nation. 

The River Hawks may have a few pre-match jitters since this is their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, thanks to sharing a conference with national power Juniata College. This year, Susquehanna's resume for admittance to the NCAA Tournament was solid enough for an at-large bid thanks to a winning recipe that includes three standout seniors. Setter Maggie O'Hearn ranks 38th in the country in assists per set with 9.94, and she locates a pair of classmates with regularity. Erin Byrne (2.79 kps, .331 hitting percentage) and Marykate Sherkness (2.61 kps) provide some consistent offense, while Morgan Lowe contributes a team-best 3.27 kills per set. Freshmen Caroline Beohm and Kasey Bost have also made their marks, with Beohm leading the team in digs (4.06 dps) and Bost producing the most aces (0.43 aps).
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Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

OH/MH/RS
6' 0"
Junior
Katrina Lane

#14 Katrina Lane

RS/OH
5' 10"
Senior
Jillian Saenz

#7 Jillian Saenz

S
5' 6"
Sophomore
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

MH
6' 2"
Freshman
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

L/DS
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

6' 0"
Junior
OH/MH/RS
Katrina Lane

#14 Katrina Lane

5' 10"
Senior
RS/OH
Jillian Saenz

#7 Jillian Saenz

5' 6"
Sophomore
S
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

6' 2"
Freshman
MH
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

5' 9"
Freshman
L/DS