Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

CU Volleyball Preview - Clarkson Invitational (10/18-19)

By: October 17, 2019
HarrisonDelaney2019act456

Women's Volleyball | 10/17/2019 9:00:00 AM

With four matches this weekend, the Clarkson University Volleyball team will have its attention spread in a variety of directions. Not only are the Golden Knights celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, but they face St. Lawrence in a key Liberty League match on Friday and then close out the weekend with three other opponents who will likely fit somewhere in the regional rankings down the road.

Clarkson Invitational Tournament Page
Live Stats/Live Video

The Series: A few years ago, Clarkson edged in front of St. Lawrence in the all-time series (65-62) and the Golden Knights have won 14 straight against the Saints dating back to the start of the 2011 season. Clarkson also enjoyed recent success against its other three opponents this weekend, beating Arcadia in its lone meeting in five sets last year, defeating Geneseo in five sets on the road, and besting Nazareth three of the last four times the teams met, including wins in both the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Tournaments.

Key Stats for Clarkson (16-3, 4-0 Liberty League): The Knights win many of their matches from the service line, both when serving and receiving. Clarkson has aced its opponents 173 times and its cumulative serve receive percentage of .950 is that of an all-star defensive specialist. Kristin Werdine headlines the team's service game, producing 0.78 aces per set, which ranks 23rd nationally. On the defensive side, Kate Isaksen has just six miscues in 258 tries for a .976 serve receive. Offensively, Rachel Reusch is producing 3.67 kills per set with a .342 hitting percentage, numbers that increase to 4.25 kills per set and a .479 hitting percentage against league foes.

Key Stats for St. Lawrence (19-3, 4-0 Liberty League): The Saints are riding senior leadership and a durable outside hitter to outlast opponents this year. On five occasions, St. Lawrence has needed a fifth set to decide the outcome of a match, and all five times the Saints have eked out a win, including two conference matches. The Saints have ridden the arm of sophomore Natalie Piper, who is among the conference leaders in kills per set (3.92) and digs per set (3.43). No other hitter is averaging better than two kills per set, but setter Jenna Britton (8.82 assists per set) is capable of finding the open player.

Key Stats for Arcadia (13-8): The Knights will only face Clarkson on Friday before hitting the road to head to Schenectady for matches against College at Brockport and Union College. Maddie Sehrt is producing solid numbers against good competition, delivering a .402 hitting percentage with 2.78 kills and 1.00 blocks per set. Shannon Ryan (3.01 kills per set) and Lauren Enfield (2.88 kills per set) also produce offensively, but with nowhere near the efficiency of Sehrt. Julia Paliwodzinski finds the trio with regularity, averaging 9.39 assists per set.

Key Stats for Geneseo (12-8): This version of the Knights, one of three teams in the tournament to go by some version of the moniker, is led by Grace Cergol. The senior outside hitter is a key component to Geneseo's success, averaging 3.41 kills, 2.01 digs and 0.40 aces per set. Classmate Abby May chips in 2.51 kills per set and sophomore Maddie McLaughlin kicks in 2.29 digs per set. Freshman Grace Thomas is setting up those hitters to the tune of 7.32 assists per set and senior Sam Mendelsohn averages 4.83 digs per set.

Key Stats for Nazareth (10-10): A fairly young team with seven freshmen and three sophomores, the Golden Flyers are nevertheless headlined by the veterans. Senior Melissa Newcomb leads the team with 2.94 kills per set and a .332 hitting percentage as the team's most consistent offensive option, while classmates Delaney Martin (2.36 kills) and Danielle Synowski (2.30 kills per set) also chip in on scoring. Synowski also is among the team leaders in aces per set (0.49) and digs per set (2.25). Junior setter Jessica Barry averages 8.42 assists per set and sophomore defensive specialist McKenzie Hart produces 4.36 digs per set.




 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

L
5' 10"
Senior
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

MH
6' 2"
Senior
Kristin Werdine

#16 Kristin Werdine

OH
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

5' 10"
Senior
L
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

6' 2"
Senior
MH
Kristin Werdine

#16 Kristin Werdine

5' 8"
Freshman
OH