Clarkson Sweeps Liberty League Volleyball Awards

By: November 13, 2019

Women's Volleyball | 11/13/2019 11:12:00 AM

Thanks to a memorable season that saw the team win the Liberty League regular-season title, the Clarkson University Volleyball program swept the conference's end-of-season awards as senior Rachel Reusch was named the Liberty League Player of the Year, freshman Kristin Werdine was chosen the Liberty League Rookie of the Year, and Carol LaMarche and Christina Oyawale gained Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Reusch becomes the first Clarkson Volleyball player since 2015 to earn the conference's top honor, joining past winners Aishvina Arasu (2015), Victoria Kirkemo (2014), Lani Durio (2013) and Sara Artus (2011). Werdine is the latest in a long line of conference rookie of the year selections, adding her name to the group that includes Evanne Jimenez (2014), Victoria Kirkemo (2012), Adrienne Walker (2011), Lani Durio (2010), Megan Mahon (2008), and Stephanie Thornton (2002). The coaching honor is LaMarche's first since joining the Golden Knights in 2016, though she was picked as the AVCA New York Region's Coach of the Year back in 2017.

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Reusch, a four-time conference all-star and three-time first-team selection, ranked fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.325) and kills per set (3.52) during the regular season, pushing those numbers to .376 and 3.67 in league matches. Reusch was also seventh in the regular season in blocks per set at 0.62 per game while adding in 27 aces through the first 28 matches of the year. Reusch was also one of the selections for the Liberty League's First-Team All-Stars.

Of the 10 weekly awards that went out to rookies, Werdine won four of them (with three of the others going to her teammate Isabelle Crow). Werdine ranked 10th in the conference in kills per set (2.67) and did considerable damage from the service line, easily leading the league in aces (64) at 0.75 per set. An outside hitter, Werdine also contributed defensively, averaging 2.87 digs per set and producing a serve receive of .961, a number that rivals some of the top libero's in the country. Werdine also earned Liberty League Second-Team All-Star status.

LaMarche and Oyawale led Clarkson's resurgence in 2019, improving by six wins (23 from 17) and claiming the regular-season conference title. The Golden Knights entered the conference tournament weekend as the top-ranked team in the New York Region.

Joining Reusch as a Liberty League First-Team All-Star is senior libero Kate Isaksen. A four-time league all-star and three-time first-team selection, Isaksen averaged 6.03 digs per set, ranking second in the league and helping Clarkson keep opponents to a .130 hitting percentage and just a .118 clip in conference games. She also posted a .973 reception percentage in the service game with only 10 errors all season.

Gaining a spot on the Liberty League's Second-Team along with Werdine was fellow freshman Isabelle Crow. The first-year collegian ranked third in the conference in assists per set with 9.47 per game and was fourth in the conference in aces per set at 0.51. Crow helped the team to a league-best .224 hitting percentage and also averaged 2.54 digs per set on defense.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Kate Isaksen: L; 5' 10"; Senior

#12 Rachel Reusch: MH; 6' 2"; Senior

#11 Isabelle Crow: S; 5' 8"; Freshman

#16 Kristin Werdine: OH; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#17 Kate Isaksen
: 5' 10"; Senior
: L

#12 Rachel Reusch
: 6' 2"; Senior
: MH

#11 Isabelle Crow
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: S

#16 Kristin Werdine
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: OH