CU Volleyball Preview - vs. SUNY Potsdam (10/12)

Riding high on eight straight victories, including five in the past week, the Clarkson University Volleyball team looks to continue its momentum into the final stretch of the season , beginning with a non-league match against crosstown rival SUNY Potsdam on Wednesday evening.

The Golden Knights, 16-4 overall and 7-1 in the Liberty League, have won 13 of their last 14 matches and eight straight overall. Clarkson and Potsdam have met 96 times prior to Wednesday's match, and the Knights have a record of just 40-56 against the Bears, though the Green and Gold have won 18 straight matches over the last decade. Potsdam is enjoying one of its better seasons in recent memory, with a record of 13-8 overall, but the team is just 1-5 in SUNYAC play.

After struggling to a five-set win over Oswego State on Tuesday, the Golden Knights put forth a dominant effort in Liberty League action over the weekend, sweeping all four of their opponents and allowing fewer than 18 points per set. The conference office took notice in awarding Rachael Aird and Rachel Reusch the Liberty League Performer of the Week and Liberty League Rookie of the Week honors, respectively. Aird ranks third in the league in kills per set (3.52 kps) and also ranks in the top five in blocks per set (0.73 bps) and hitting percentage (.283), while Reusch leads the conference in hitting percentage (.334) and is second in blocks per set (0.88). The pair are two of the favorite targets for sophomore setter Jillian Saenz, who ranks second in the league in assists per set (9.27). Another frequent recipient of Saenz's sets is senior Katrina Lane, who is one of three players to average better than two kills per sets for the Knights. On the defensive side, Kate Isaksen leads the team with 5.79 digs per set, good enough for second in the league, while Kendall Cheval, Sierra Rhoades and Lane each average better than two digs per set.

Potsdam (13-8 overall) started the season off with nine straight wins, but the team has not been able to repeat the success over the last few weeks, having claimed just one win in five matches since the calendar turned to October. Rachel Topf and Gabrielle Scott are leaned upon for kills from the outside, as Topf leads the team with 2.53 kills per set and Scott is narrowly behind at 2.40 kills per set. The duo also averages a combined 6.85 digs per set. Kelsey Tompkins provides as well with 2.13 kills per set and a team-best .283 hitting percentage. Brianna Rodda runs the offense to the tune of 8.30 assists per set and also averages 0.51 aces per set, while Sloane Campbell is the squad's top defender with 3.82 digs per set.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Rachael Aird: OH/MH/RS; 6' 0"; Junior

#11 Kendall Cheval: DS/OH; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#14 Katrina Lane: RS/OH; 5' 10"; Senior

#8 Sierra Rhoades: OH/DS; 5' 8"; Senior

#7 Jillian Saenz: S; 5' 6"; Sophomore

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

#17 Kate Isaksen: L/DS; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Rachael Aird
: 6' 0"; Junior
: OH/MH/RS

#11 Kendall Cheval
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: DS/OH

#14 Katrina Lane
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RS/OH

#8 Sierra Rhoades
: 5' 8"; Senior
: OH/DS

#7 Jillian Saenz
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: S

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

#17 Kate Isaksen
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: L/DS