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Clarkson University Athletics

2026 Clarkson University Volleyball Preview

Block545
Will Leiphart

Women's Volleyball | 8/26/2026 9:41:00 AM

Some slight changes to the lineup will be necessary in 2026 for the Clarkson University Volleyball team due to some departures from graduation, but a talented group of veterans along with a strong influx of talent should provide a revamped Golden Knights group a return to Liberty League contention this fall.

Over the last three years, the Golden Knights have hovered around the .500 mark due to injuries and some challenging schedules, but a healthy squad bursting with talent has its eyes on a return to the Liberty League title game, a spot that Clarkson has not been positioned since 2022 when the Knights fell just short of another NCAA bid.

Guided by coach Carol LaMarche and assistant Sara Da Silva, Clarkson looks to couple an always capable defense with a stronger offense this year. The Knights have led the conference in digs per set every year from 2016 to 2025 except for 2019, when the team was off by 0.01 digs. That streak of stinginess in the back row should continue with an experienced group, including its two captains in senior Cecilia Velardi and junior Olivia Baxter. Velardi did not compete last semester as she was on co-op, but has returned for a final semester looking to top her 3.04 digs per set she registered as a junior when she ranked 11th in the Liberty League. Baxter was Clarkson's lone conference all-star a year ago after placing second in the league in digs per set (5.40 dps), continuing the Knights' recent stretch of standout liberos. Baxter also ranked fourth in the conference in aces per set (0.63 aps) and is only a few sets shy of qualifying for Clarkson's all-time leaderboard in that category, where she would be one of only two players in program history to average more than 0.6 aces per set. Joining Velardi and Baxter in the back row are senior Emma Cortez and sophomore Izzie Piano. Cortez has been a consistent contributor in her three seasons with the Knights while Piano shined in her 20 sets both defensively and from the service line a year ago.

The Green and Gold graduated their starting setter in Ashley Currier, who did a little bit of everything on the court in her career for the Knights, leaving the reigns to sophomores Natasha Aguirre and Brianna Hale. Aguirre appeared in roughly half the team's matches when the Knights' utilized Currier as a hitter, averaging 5.00 assists per set. Hale spent the season rehabbing an injury, but her taller frame allows for the Knights to continue mixing up their setting looks as she could also be used in the front row.

Offensively, Clarkson is without Marin Hangliter and Grace Hanson, with the latter returning to Canada after two solid years in the states. However, the Knights can continue to lean on the offense of Conley Burns, who ranked among the conference leaders in kills per set (3.31 kps), which also happened to be the highest figure by a Golden Knights' first-year since three-time All-American Aishvina Arasu in 2012. Burns looks to build upon a season in which she was named Liberty League Rookie of the Week five times.

No other returning player averaged more than 1.20 kills per set last year, but that doesn't mean that Clarkson is devoid of options. Emily Alexander (1.17 kps), Ainslie Reimer (1.14 kps), and Jordyn Leader (1.13 kps) all had standout matches last season and could step up this year, especially Reimer who will be returning to her more natural position on the pin rather than in the middle. Sophomore Georgia Thurmond will also be an option on the rightside for the Knights in her second campaign, while Cirrae Cuffy is also back after missing last season due to injury.

All of Clarkson's first-year players are hitter, including several in the middle, a trouble spot for the Knights in the past few campaigns due to a lack of depth. Chase Chudoba, Amelia Bartfalvi, Aven Day, Lyra Hall, and Trinity Simon will all get long looks in the preseason as the coaching staff shuffles pieces around looking for the right combination for 2026.   


 
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Players Mentioned

Emily Alexander

#12 Emily Alexander

RS
6' 1"
Junior
Olivia Baxter

#13 Olivia Baxter

DS
5' 6"
Sophomore
Emma Cortez

#3 Emma Cortez

DS/L
5' 3"
Junior
Ashley Currier

#9 Ashley Currier

S
5' 9"
Senior
Marin Hangliter

#7 Marin Hangliter

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Grace Hanson

#16 Grace Hanson

OH/RS
5' 11"
Sophomore
Cecilia Velardi

#2 Cecilia Velardi

DS/L
5' 4"
Senior
Izzie Piano

#1 Izzie Piano

DS/L
5' 2"
Freshman
Ainslie Reimer

#11 Ainslie Reimer

OH/MH
5' 9"
Junior
Brianna Hale

#5 Brianna Hale

S
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Emily Alexander

#12 Emily Alexander

6' 1"
Junior
RS
Olivia Baxter

#13 Olivia Baxter

5' 6"
Sophomore
DS
Emma Cortez

#3 Emma Cortez

5' 3"
Junior
DS/L
Ashley Currier

#9 Ashley Currier

5' 9"
Senior
S
Marin Hangliter

#7 Marin Hangliter

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Grace Hanson

#16 Grace Hanson

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH/RS
Cecilia Velardi

#2 Cecilia Velardi

5' 4"
Senior
DS/L
Izzie Piano

#1 Izzie Piano

5' 2"
Freshman
DS/L
Ainslie Reimer

#11 Ainslie Reimer

5' 9"
Junior
OH/MH
Brianna Hale

#5 Brianna Hale

5' 10"
Freshman
S