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Clarkson University Athletics

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Women's Volleyball September 17, 2015

CU Volleyball Preview - First Liberty League Weekend (9/18-19)

Having already faced three teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25 and several others that have received notice from pollsters, the Clarkson University Volleyball team is well-prepared and poised to begin its run towards a fourth straight conference title as the Liberty League slate starts this weekend.

The Golden Knights, currently 8-3 through 11 matches and ranked 18th in the latest national poll, will face Bard (4-4) and Skidmore (2-7) on Friday in Saratoga and will then take on Vassar (4-4) and Union (9-1) on Saturday in Schenectady.

The three losses that Clarkson has suffered have come to nationally-ranked opponents, and the Knights were in a position to win on two occasions in those defeats. Despite the rigorous schedule, the Green and Gold lead the conference on offense with a .234 hitting percent, 13.00 kills per set, and 11.93 assists per set. Senior outside hitter Aishvina Arasu leads the league in hitting percentage at .320, just one of four Clarkson players ranked in the top 10 in the league in hitting percentage. Arasu (3.43 kills per set) is joined by Victoria Kirkemo on the outside (2.74 kills per set) while rightside Lauren Hutchinson is contributing (2.45 kills per set) as well. Senior Kirstie Shurie is once again atop the conference leaderboard in assists (10.33 per set), nearly an assist and a half better than any other setter in the league. Freshman Tara Stilwell also took little time adapting to the college game as she leads the team in digs per set (4.48) and is fourth in the conference in that category. She is also tied for the team lead in aces (18) and is averaging nearly an assist per set. 

Clarkson has not lost a match in league play since 2012 and has won 30 straight matches against conference competition, going 90-6 in sets over that span. However, all six of those set losses have come again teams from this weekend. 

Bard is the first opponent for the Knights on Friday and the Raptors have improved this year with a .500 record of 4-4 so far, already one win better than their 3-32 record of 2014. Freshman Sofia Koukia is averaging 3.43 kills per set and has a hitting percentage of .239 after a strong performance over this past weekend, while Victoria Chou has stepped in with 7.55 assists per set. Skidmore, Clarkson's second opponent on Friday, is the last team to defeat the Golden Knights in Liberty League play, claiming the regular-season finale in 2012. Since then, the Thoroughbreds have struggled going 19-43 in the last two years before their 2-7 start in 2015. Skidmore is giving up three more kills per set than they record, but its defense has kept them in matches as Marcela Familiar (5.78 digs) and Allie Dillon (4.25 digs) have kept points alive.

On Saturday the Knights will take on Vassar to start the day, and the Brewers are the last conference opponent to force Clarkson to five sets, a 3-2 victory for the Knights in the league semifinals in 2012. Devan Gallagher and Gabby Miller are combining for five kills per set for the Brewers, while both Annie MacMillan (7.48 assists per set) and Chloe Hallum (3.96 digs per set) each rank sixth in their respective departments. Union is off to a strong start at 9-1, but has needed five sets on multiple occasions to claim its victories. The Dutchwomen are the only team in the last two years to take a set from the Golden Knights, but Clarkson is still 18-3 in sets and 6-0 overall in that span. Rachel Wyman narrowly leads the conference in kills per set (3.45) and is hitting .261, trailing teammate Morgan Clark (.283), who ranks third in the league in hitting percentage. Amanda Price is second in assists (8.93 per set) and Lauren Woods is the current runner-up in blocks (0.80 per set). Kat Moeller ranks third in the league in digs (4.49 per set). 
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Players Mentioned

Aishvina Arasu

#5 Aishvina Arasu

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Lauren Hutchinson

#4 Lauren Hutchinson

OH/RS
5' 9"
Senior
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

OH
5' 9"
Senior
Kirstie Shurie

#17 Kirstie Shurie

S/L
5' 5"
Senior
Tara Stilwell

#12 Tara Stilwell

DS
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Aishvina Arasu

#5 Aishvina Arasu

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Lauren Hutchinson

#4 Lauren Hutchinson

5' 9"
Senior
OH/RS
Victoria Kirkemo

#6 Victoria Kirkemo

5' 9"
Senior
OH
Kirstie Shurie

#17 Kirstie Shurie

5' 5"
Senior
S/L
Tara Stilwell

#12 Tara Stilwell

5' 9"
Freshman
DS