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Clarkson University Athletics

Potsdam Regional Volleyball Preview - November 15-17

By: November 13, 2019
AnthemVB2019

Women's Volleyball | 11/13/2019 4:00:00 PM

For the sixth time in nine years, the Clarkson University Volleyball team will serve as host for one of the eight NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament regionals, welcoming seven other title contenders to Alumni Gymnasium from November 15-17.

Potsdam Regional Tournament Webpage

Tickets:
Adults – Single-Session $6.00, All-Session Weekend Pass $12.00
Students/Seniors – Single-Session $4.00, All-Session Weekend Pass $10.00
Children Under 12 – Single-Session $3.00, All-Session Weekend Pass $7.00

Weekend Schedule:
Friday
Match 1 - #6 St. John Fisher vs. #3 Wesleyan (12:30 pm)
Match 2 - #7 SUNY Morrisville vs. #2 Ithaca (3:00 pm)
Match 3 - #5 Brockport vs. #4 Wellesley (5:30 pm)
Match 4 - #8 Westfield State vs. #1 Clarkson (8:00 pm)
Saturday
Match 5 – Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2 (2:30 pm)
Match 6 – Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4 (5:00 pm)
Sunday
Match 7 – Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6 (1:00 pm)

#1 Clarkson Golden Knights (25-5, Automatic Bid as winner of Liberty League): The Golden Knights are the top seed for the fifth time in the last seven years and serve as host for the fourth time in that stretch. The Green and Gold own one of the best serve receive teams in the country, posting a collective .948 rate, the number of an above-average libero. Two-time AVCA All-American, including First-Team honors in 2018, Kate Isaksen leads the team with 6.05 digs per set and a .973 serve receive. She ranks as NCAA Division III's active leader in digs (3112) as one of only nine players to ever surpass 3000. Liberty League Player of the Year Rachel Reusch is the team's top offensive player, averaging 3.50 kills per set with a .314 hitting percentage. Liberty League Rookie of the Year Kristin Werdine led the conference with 0.71 aces per set while also adding in 2.60 kills and 2.94 digs per set. Also chipping in on offense are Maddie Bredehoeft (2.34 kills per set) and Gillian Kurtic (2.07 kills per set, .332 hitting percentage). Isabelle Crow runs the offense to the tune of 9.54 assists per set while also adding 2.55 digs and 0.51 aces per set. Emma Baxter bolsters the serve receive with a .970 rate while adding in 2.53 digs per set since taking on a starting role in mid-season. Clarkson reached the NCAA Quarterfinals four straight years (2012-2015) but hasn't advanced past the second round in its last two NCAA appearances.
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#2 Ithaca Bombers (18-10, At-Large Bid): The Bombers and Knights battled to five sets for the Liberty League title, and Ithaca still came away with an at-large bid due to the strength of its schedule, with a third of its schedule against teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25. Junior Reagan Stone ranks fourth in the country with 4.65 kills per set, including 36 kills against Clarkson in the conference title match, the most of any player in Division III all season. Stone's numbers don't come purely by volume either, as she has a .243 hitting percentage. Alison Lipton (2.73 kills per set) and Sarah Jennison (2.47 kills per set) also provide excellent secondary options for senior setter Caitlyn Floyd, who ranks third in the country in assists per set (11.31). First-year standout Jennifer Pitts also adds in 2.04 kills and 0.70 blocks per set with a .320 hitting percentage, while sophomore libero Jordyn Lyn Hayashi leads the team with 5.04 digs per set. The Bombers reached the NCAA Semifinals in 2017.
NOTES PDF

#3 Wesleyan Cardinals (20-4, At-Large Bid): Ranked 25th in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll, the Cardinals are the lone team in the Potsdam Regional that is ranked, though Clarkson, Ithaca and Wellesley are also receiving votes in the poll.  The top two hitters by rate are Mia Hogan (3.00 kills per set) and Nicole Hilton (2.95 kills per set), but both missed a solid portion of the season. Hilton has played in just 15 of the team's 24 matches, sitting out nine matches at various times in September. However, Hilton has made the most of her time since, putting up impressive numbers down the stretch, including a .349 hitting percentage and 1.04 blocks per set. Bella Ahearn also is averaging 2.57 kills per set among players who haven't missed time, and Harper Graves chips in 2.11 kills per set. Gabby Bennett may rank fifth on the team in kills per set (1.92) but she has a .354 hitting percentage. Kaira Muraoka-Robertson produces 8.97 assists per set and Phia Bellizzi is among the top performers on defense in the country, averaging 6.17 digs per set. Wesleyan reached the NCAA Quarterfinals a year ago.

#4 Wellesley Blue (22-5, At-Large Bid): Wellesley was Clarkson's first NCAA Tournament opponent back in 2009, with the Blue advancing past the Knights in four sets in Medford, MA. Lauren Gedney ranks 18th in the nation in kills per set with 4.19 per game, but also does so with great effect, hitting at a .320 clip. Nicole Doerges also produces points at a high rate with 2.98 kills and 0.55 aces per set, while Nikki Jensen contributes both offensively (2.27 kills per set) and defensively (2.78 digs per set). Izzy Seebold runs a strong offense with 10.18 assists per game, the 19th-best figures in Division III, while also adding 0.52 aces per set. Molly Weik hits at a .315 clip and also leads the team with 0.76 blocks per set while Meghan Shoop is the team's top defender with 3.59 digs per set. The Blue are regular visitors to the NCAA Tournament, this being their 14th appearance all-time. The squad reached the NCAA Semifinals in both 1998 and 2001.  

#5 Brockport Golden Eagles (19-10, Automatic Bid as winner of SUNYAC): Fewer teams are hotter than the Golden Eagles. Brockport was below .500 after a loss to Oneonta State in mid-October, but the team has won 10 straight since that defeat, including victories against Clarkson and St. John Fisher. Meaghan Mastro is among the team leaders in virtually all categories, averaging 2.62 kills, 2.61 digs, and 0.82 blocks per set to go along with a .295 attack percentage. Andrea Coyle (2.55 kills per set) and Lindsey Luce (2.32 kills per set, 0.72 blocks per set) also add to the team's offensive options. Brockport frequently employs a two-setter system, with Kerri McHale averaging 5.55 assists per set and Abbey Manning producing 4.05 assists per set. Shelby Budnick is a solid server (0.66 aces per set) and defender (2.95 digs per set) while Ellen Paddock leads the team with 4.18 digs per set. This will be Brockport's 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Their farthest advance in the tournament came when they hosted a regional in 2016, moving to the regional finals that year but eventually losing to Emory.  

#6 St. John Fisher Cardinals (23-10, Automatic Bid as winner of Empire 8): Making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in more than two decades, the Cardinals are looking to make some noise with a strong offense. The Cardinals average 2.74 aces per set and utilize three hitters more than most teams. Alea Steigerwald, Lauren Gilbert, and Lindsey DeBonis take 77.8% of the swings for the Cardinals, with Steigerwald having attacked 1280 times this year. The strategy works, however, as Steigerwald ranks seventh in the country in kills per set (4.43) with a .245 hitting percentage. She also averages 3.49 digs per set and 0.60 aces per set. Gilbert kicks in 2.97 kills per set and DeBonis averages 2.22 kills per set. Rebecca Hay finds the trio with frequency, recording 9.30 assists per set, and also adds to the team's offense with 0.45 aces per set. Alexis Mancha also chips in 0.47 aces per set and leads the team with 3.42 digs per game. The Cardinals are 1-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round back in 1997.

#7 SUNY Morrisville Mustangs (23-7, Automatic Bid as winner of NEAC): The Potsdam Regional is full of big hitters with Stone, Steigerwald, and Gedney all ranking in the top 20 nationally in kills per set. However, the Mustangs possess the NCAA Division III leader in kills per set in Megyan Merrill, who averages 5.18 kills per set with a .301 hitting percentage, an impressive feat considering she has taken more than 1200 swings in 2019. Amelia Baratier averages 3.17 kills per set and Kirsten Florio tosses in 2.39 kills per set to add to the team's offense. Sam Wolf leads the team on defense with 5.46 digs per set while also adding 0.42 aces per set. Morrisville utilizes two different setters, but rarely at the same time. Siobhan Moore averages 10.24 assists per set (in 68 sets) and Hannah Taylor produces 9.80 assists per game (55 sets). The Mustangs have won three straight conference titles and are seeking their first victory in the NCAA Tournament. Clarkson faced Morrisville in the opening round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, winning in three games (25-15, 25-21, 25-16).
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#8 Westfield State Owls (14-16, Automatic Bid as winner of MASCAC): The Owls posted a sub .500 record overall, but went unbeaten against conference foes with a 7-0 mark in league play and a flawless mark in the conference tournament, dropping just four sets in those nine matches. Brianna Starkey leads the team on offense with 2.56 kills per set and 0.76 blocks per set while Ashley Crowley (2.30 kills per set) and Shawna Crowley (2.12 kills per set) also add to the team's options while on the attack. Ally Rega finds that trio often, posting 8.09 assists per set and 2.85 digs per set while Lizzie Taylor averages 5.83 digs per set and 0.58 aces per set. The Owls are making their fifth tournament appearance ever, all since 2009, and are still seeking their first victory in the NCAA Tournament. Clarkson and Westfield State were a first-round matchup back in 2013, with the Golden Knights advancing in three sets.




 
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Players Mentioned

Maddie Bredehoeft

#5 Maddie Bredehoeft

OH
5' 9"
Senior
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

L
5' 10"
Senior
Gillian Kurtic

#14 Gillian Kurtic

MH/RS
6' 3"
Junior
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

MH
6' 2"
Senior
Emma Baxter

#2 Emma Baxter

L/DS
5' 5"
Freshman
Isabelle Crow

#11 Isabelle Crow

S
5' 8"
Freshman
Kristin Werdine

#16 Kristin Werdine

OH
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Maddie Bredehoeft

#5 Maddie Bredehoeft

5' 9"
Senior
OH
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

5' 10"
Senior
L
Gillian Kurtic

#14 Gillian Kurtic

6' 3"
Junior
MH/RS
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

6' 2"
Senior
MH
Emma Baxter

#2 Emma Baxter

5' 5"
Freshman
L/DS
Isabelle Crow

#11 Isabelle Crow

5' 8"
Freshman
S
Kristin Werdine

#16 Kristin Werdine

5' 8"
Freshman
OH