Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

CU Volleyball Preview - Liberty League Tournament (11/8-9)

By: November 7, 2019
CrowIsabelle2019act45

Women's Volleyball | 11/7/2019 7:52:00 AM

Hosting the Liberty League Tournament for the first time since 2015, the Clarkson University Volleyball team looks to return to its title-winning ways this weekend, beginning with a match against Route 11 rival St. Lawrence University on Friday evening.

The top-seeded Golden Knights will face fourth-seeded St. Lawrence at 5:00 pm with second-seeded Ithaca taking on third-seed RIT at 7:30 pm. The two winners will then play for the conference championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at 4:00 pm on Saturday.

Live Stats/Live Video

Key Stats for Clarkson (23-5, 6-1 Liberty League): Despite a loss over the weekend, Clarkson pushed back to first in the New York Region when the regional rankings were announced yesterday afternoon. Clarkson swept St. Lawrence in its first match between the two teams and also defeated Ithaca in four sets in a matchup of conference unbeatens late in the calendar. The Knights did end up dropping a five-set match to RIT the following day. Clarkson's service game took a hit over the last weekend without freshman Kristin Werdine, but the Golden Knights are still one of the top defensive teams on serve receive and are impressive when on the line themselves. Clarkson has 239 aces against 169 errors, but have been aced just 79 times overall. Werdine (437) and Kate Isaksen (374) have combined for nearly half of the serve receives and the duo has committed just 27 reception errors. Offensively, Rachel Reusch is averaging 3.52 kills per set with a .325 hitting percentage with Werdine adding in 2.67 kills per set and Maddie Bredehoeft tossing in 2.30 kills per set. Gillian Kurtic also tops two kills per set with a league-leading .343 hitting percentage.

Key Stats for St. Lawrence (22-9, 4-3 Liberty League): The Saints started the season with 19 wins in their first 22 matches, but since facing Clarkson on October 18th the team has struggled with just three wins in the last nine, including losses in four of their past five matches. Much of that has to do with facing stiffer competition, including the other three teams in the Liberty League Tournament. St. Lawrence was swept by Clarkson and Ithaca, but took RIT to five sets. Sophomore Natalie Piper can be difficult to contain as she averages 3.73 kills, 3.50 digs, and 0.45 blocks. Annika Kreppein kicks in 1.82 kills per set and Julia Wagner averages 1.81 kills per set while Amanda Teppo produces a little over 1.50 kills as well as 1.07 blocks per set. Vivian Susko leads the team in digs at 3.74 among players participating in more than 75% of the team's sets, and Jenna Britton runs the offense with 8.11 assists per set to go along with a team-best 40 aces. St. Lawrence has notched 219 aces this year overall, but has also given those points back with 275 service errors.

Key Stats for Ithaca (17-9, 6-1 Liberty League): The Bombers, ranked second in the New York Region, have challenged themselves with a tough schedule and eight of Ithaca's nine losses have come against nationally-ranked teams, including four in the top 10 in the country. The only other loss Ithaca suffered was to conference rival Clarkson and the team swept both St. Lawrence and RIT in the regular season. The Liberty League Player of the Year ago, junior Reagan Stone has once again been active on offense, leading the conference and ranking among the national leaders in kills per set (fifth) with 4.49 per game. Sophomore Alison Lipton is next with 282 kills per set and freshman Jennifer Pitts has notched 1.96 kills per set. Senior setter Caitlyn Floyd is fourth in the country in assists per set at 11.18 with numerous options from which to choose. Ithaca's most significant issue was displayed during its match against the Knights when the Bombers gave up 16 points on service errors without recording an ace while getting aced 12 times. The team has just 137 aces against 217 service errors.

Key Stats for RIT (18-11, 5-2 Liberty League): The Tigers, ranked fifth in the New York Region, appeared to be peaking at the right time, going 10-1 in October, but RIT suffered two defeats this past weekend to NYU and Cortland State, with both losses occurring at home. The Tigers lost to Ithaca in three sets in a mid-week match, but beat both St. Lawrence and Clarkson in five sets to achieve the third seed in the conference tournament. Sophomore Katie Hobler has repeated the impressive numbers she posted a year ago and is averaging 4.25 kills per set with a .283 hitting percentage. Taylor Higgins (3.21 kills per set) and Kelly Watters (.339 hitting percentage, second in the Liberty League) also contribute to the team's offense which averages 12.30 kills per set with a .224 hitting percentage. Brianna Ellis averages 9.92 assists per set, second in the league, and Maria Simonetti leads the team in 4.26 digs per set from her libero position.




 
Print Friendly Version

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
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
Kristin Werdine

#16 Kristin Werdine

5' 8"
Freshman
OH