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Women's Volleyball September 8, 2016

CU Volleyball Preview - at New Paltz Invitational (9/9-10)

Women's Volleyball September 8, 2016

CU Volleyball Preview - at New Paltz Invitational (9/9-10)

Four matches in with a pair of wins and a pair of losses, the Clarkson University Volleyball team will get a better understanding of its spot in the New York Region this weekend as the Golden Knights take on four regional powers at the New Paltz Invitational.
 
Clarkson, receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, has faced all four of this weekend's opponents in key matches in the past few years. Friday's first opponent is host New Paltz, a team that Clarkson defeated in the NCAA Regional Finals in both 2012 and 2013. The Golden Knights 8:00 pm opponent on Friday, Stevens Institute of Technology, was the foe in the NCAA Regional Final in 2014, a match in which Clarkson also came away the winner. New York University was Clarkson's NCAA Regional Semifinal opponent in 2013, and Saturday's second opponent is Stockton, a team that has vied for the top spot in the New York Region with Clarkson over the last few years.

The Golden Knights enter the match with a record of 2-2 overall following wins over Oneonta State and Central College (IA) and losses to second-ranked Juniata and Ithaca College. Junior Rachael Aird made a solid transition to outside hitter in her first weekend at the spot since being forced into the duty in October 2015. Aird delivered 4.47 kills and 0.73 blocks per set against some stiff competition, while freshman Rachel Reusch showed what she could do as well, battering opponents with a .370 hitting percentage, 2.20 kills per set and 0.73 blocks per set. Sophomore Jillian Saenz ran the team to the tune of 9.33 assists per set, while freshman Kate Isaksen produced 6.60 digs per set. Kendall Cheval also contributed 3.07 digs per set for the Knights. 

Clarkson has won five straight matches against New Paltz and owns an 8-6 all-time record against the Hawks. New Paltz enters the match with a record of 1-3 after challenging itself in a difficult tournament in the Midwest. Morgan Roessler leads the team with 3.31 kills per set and also contributed 0.56 blocks per set. Anna Pavlik ranks second in the team in both kills (2.56 kps) and digs (2.88 dps) while Brittany Tyack is hitting .243 with 1.88 kills and 0.81 blocks per set. Veronica Matedero leads the squad with 3.86 digs per set and Maddie Zwickl runs the offense with 9.5 assists and 2.63 digs per set.

Stevens started off 2016 on the right foot with four wins in five matches, the lone defeat coming against top-ranked Cal Lutheran. Mary Tobin is back averaging 3.14 kills and 3.29 digs per set with a .258 hitting percentage while Casey King is producing 2.5 kills, 2.86 digs and 0.71 blocks per set. Brianna Perez is averaging exactly nine assists per set and is second on the team in aces with 0.56 per game, barely trailing the team leader Emily Piekarski (0.63). Sydni Horner headlines the defense with 5.60 digs per set and Shelby Stewart is averaging a block per set with one solo effort and 14 block assists in 15 sets.

Clarkson has a record of 5-3 all-time against Stevens, the exact same mark that the Knights possess against NYU, the first opponent on Saturday. The Violets began the year 2-2 in their first weekend and have five players averaging two kills per set or better. Caroline Rapp leads the way with 2.78 kills per set, while Gretchen Cash has been well-rounded with 2.62 kills and 3.11 digs per set to go along with a .329 hitting percentage. Rayne Ellis also has 2.23 kills and 1.00 blocks per set. Daryl Mitchell (7.89 assists per set) and Kathryn Goyette (7.86 assists per set) have split setting duties so far, while Grace Napolitano is contributing 5.54 digs per set.

The Knights won their only meeting ever against Stockton and will have a chance to improve to 2-0 while also attempting to knock off the unbeaten Ospreys. Idi Uffen is starting to put all of her tools together and is averaging 2.81 kills and 1.63 blocks per set while hitting .477 in the early going of 2016. Stephanie Kovacs is averaging 2.44 kills and 1.88 digs per set with a .317 hitting percentage. Kovacs' 1.88 digs per set is second on the team behind the 6.06 digs that Rebecka Zabilowicz has compiled so far. Jessica Ciandella and Jocelyn Holobetz share the setting duties by combining for 8.37 assists per set. 
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Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

OH/MH/RS
6' 0"
Junior
Kendall Cheval

#11 Kendall Cheval

DS/OH
5' 6"
Sophomore
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
Kendall Cheval

#11 Kendall Cheval

5' 6"
Sophomore
DS/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