Lancaster, P.A.- The Clarkson University Volleyball team continued a tough non-league schedule, as the Golden Knights dropped two matches to Franklin and Marshall College and Virginia Wesleyan University, Saturday afternoon.
Clarkson drops to 2-7 after the weekend. The Golden Knights return to action September 20th at Alumni Gymnasium as they host Plattsburgh State.
In the first set, Franklin and Marshall jumped out to an early lead opening with a seven-point streak. Clarkson struggled to work back from the deficit, eventually closing the lead to three (12-9), off a kill by Emily Alexander, and two attack errors by the Diplomats. The hosts strung together a tough response with a four-point streak of their own while taking five of the last six points, winning set one, 25-17.
The two teams traded points early in the second before Franklin and Marshall rattled off six straight points to take a 12-5 advantage. Clarkson would answer with a four-point streak with kills from Anna Mayer and Allyson Treichel to go along with a service error and attack error by the Diplomats to close the gap to 13-10. Both squads continued going back-and-forth into the late teens before a four-point streak from Franklin and Marshall sunk the Golden Knight effort, taking the second set 25-21.
Faced with the match sweep, Clarkson managed to keep the game close trailing by just one at 10-9. Point streaks continued to play to the advantage of the home side as a six-point streak by the Diplomats gave them a 16-10 lead headed into the final stretch of the set. The Golden Knights again struggled to gain any solid footing, never piecing together more than two points on one occasion, conceding the third set 25-17 and the match in three sets.
Treichel led the Green and Gold with 13 kills and two digs, Alexander and Marin Hangliter both had five kills as Hangliter added five digs in the cause. Abigail Spector was a constant in the defense with 25 digs while Mayer was credited with 20 assists.
Ceci Connolly led the Diplomat attack with 15 kills as Gianna Mangiamele recorded 13. Carly Campbell and Liah Perez had 20 and 19 assists, respectively, in the hosts seventh win of the year.
Clarkson faced another tough opponent in the second game of the day going up against Virginia Wesleyan University who entered the day at 7-1, the lone loss coming at the hands of Franklin and Marshall, Friday evening. The Marlins raced out to a quick advantage building a 7-2 lead, following a six-point streak early in the set. The Knights began to claw their way back in, tying the opening stanza at 19-19 off an Emily Alexander kill. Clarkson took their first lead of the set at 20-19, as Tess Sorel earned the point off an assist by Anna Mayer. Virginia Wesleyan would go on to score on five of the next seven plays for a 25-22 win in set one.
Set two opened in similar fashion to the first as the Marlins stifled any Clarkson momentum building an eight point lead at one point (15-7). The Knights were forced to play catch-up again, trimming the lead down to as little as four at 19-15 and 20-16. VMU again registered five of the next seven points, taking the second set 25-18.
Looking to avoid the sweep in the third, Clarkson managed to build an 8-5 lead following a four point streak early in the set. Not to be outdone, Virginia Wesleyan strung together a four point streak of their own off four straight kills taking a 10-9 lead. Both teams continued to trade points throughout the "teens" with neither side managing to build more than a two point lead. Back-to-back kills from Tess Sorel and Allyson Treichel evened the set at 19-19, but the late push fell just short as the Marlins took five out of the last six points for the 25-20, set win.
Sorel finished the second match with eight kills while Treichel registered seven and Marin Hangliter added six in the effort for the Golden Knights. Mayer totaled a game high 23 assists to go along with eight digs and two kills. Abigail Spector tallied a game high 18 digs to continue her central role in the Clarkson defense.
Hannah Smith led Virginia Wesleyan with 16 kills and 10 digs, while Niya Nash dished out 14 assists to go along with five digs.
