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Clarkson University Athletics

CU Volleyball Preview - vs. Ithaca/at RIT (10/25-26)

By: October 23, 2019
Kurtic2019Act66

Women's Volleyball | 10/23/2019 8:57:00 PM

Battling for the top spot in the Liberty League and the accompanying hosting rights for the conference tournament, the Clarkson University Volleyball team will face last year's regular season champion on Friday and the post-season champion on Saturday as the Golden Knights will face their toughest league challenges of the year against Ithaca College and RIT.

The Golden Knights will face the Bombers at 4:00 pm on Friday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium and then travel to take on the Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

Live Stats/Live Video – vs. Ithaca College
Live Stats/Live Video – at RIT

The Series vs. Ithaca: The last three years the Bombers have beaten Clarkson during the regular season, but the Golden Knights have won when it mattered, eliminating Ithaca from the Liberty League Tournament in both 2017 and 2018, as well as taking down the Bombers in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Clarkson is just 7-26 all-time against Ithaca, but are 6-3 since 2009.

The Series vs. RIT: Clarkson is 20-25 all-time against the Tigers, but RIT won both matches last year versus the Knights in four sets, ending an 18-match winning streak for Clarkson. RIT's four-set win in the championship match of the Liberty League Tournament ended Clarkson's six-year stranglehold of the postseason title.

Key Stats for Clarkson (20-3, 5-0 Liberty League): Although the team suffered a hiccup on serve receive over the weekend, the Golden Knights are still one of the best in the country in that part of the game. Clarkson's serve receive percentage sits at .945, the mark of a well above average libero. Coupled with that is an extraordinary service game where Clarkson has 208 aces in 76 sets. Kate Isaksen ranks 11th in the country in digs per set (6.08) and has a .972 serve receive while Kristin Werdine has a league-high 59 aces, ranking 17th in the country in aces per set (0.78). Gillian Kurtic (.351, 48th) and Rachel Reusch (.349, 51st) are also in the national rankings in hitting percentage. Reusch's career percentage recently edged up to .335, the 22nd-best among active players in NCAA Division III.

Key Stats for Ithaca (15-7, 5-0 Liberty League): Junior Reagan Stone was picked as the Liberty League Player of the Year a year ago, and she is certainly a candidate once again in 2019. Stone averages 4.38 kills per set and also possesses a tough serve with a team-best 26 aces. Chipping in on offense are Alison Lipton (2.75 kills per set) and Sarah Jennison (2.61 kills per set), players who have become frequent targets of senior setter Caitlyn Floyd, who leads the conference with 11.24 assists per set, which is also the third-best figure in all of NCAA Division III.

Key Stats for RIT (15-9, 3-2 Liberty League): The Tigers saw a nine-match winning streak halted after a loss to Ithaca on Wednesday, and RIT is now officially out of the chase for first place in the league and will be fighting for a playoff spot with its matches against St. Lawrence and Clarkson. Sophomore Katie Hobler is second in the league in kills per set at 4.29 while also adding in 2.24 digs per game and junior Taylor Higgins is averaging 2.94 kills and 3.14 digs per set to go along with a team-best 37 aces. Senior Kelly Waters averages 2.28 kills and 0.64 blocks per set, leading the Liberty League with a .390 hitting percentage.



 
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Players Mentioned

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
Kristin Werdine

#16 Kristin Werdine

OH
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

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
Kristin Werdine

#16 Kristin Werdine

5' 8"
Freshman
OH