CU Volleyball Preview - at RIT/William Smith (10/6-7)

Gary Mikel

Women's Volleyball | 10/5/2023 9:00:00 AM

Unbeaten through the first three conference matches, the Clarkson University Volleyball team could very well clinch a playoff spot this weekend, as the team travels to take on RIT and William Smith on Friday and Saturday.

Live Stats at RIT
Live Video at RIT
Live Stats at William Smith
Live Video at William Smith

The Series: The Golden Knights ended a four-match losing streak to RIT last year and have won 21 of 48 meetings all time against the Tigers. On the other end of the spectrum, Clarkson has faced William Smith just three times in program history, winning in straight sets last year and losing two matches before any of the current players were born back in 1988 and 1995.

Key Stats for Clarkson (8-6, 3-0 Liberty League): The Golden Knights hit .337 in last year's match against the Herons, including a .412 percentage from Sara Galante (9-2-17) and a .467 rate from Olivia Freer (9-2-15). Galante is averaging 3.23 kills, 3.04 digs, and 0.65 aces per set for the Knights, and Allyson Treichel is contributing 2.46 kills per set with 0.56 blocks per game, including nine solo blocks overall. Abigail Spector has 5.40 digs per set thus far, the best figure in the Liberty League.

Key Stats for RIT (5-11, 1-0 Liberty League): The Tigers have several hitters hovering right around two kills per set, but the most effective hitter has been Grace Phelan, who has a .304 hitting percentage and averages 1.80 kills per game. She also has 0.66 blocks per set from the middle. Macie Jolliffe leads the team in kills per set (2.40), but is hitting just .106. Setter Sydney Neff ranks among the team leaders in numerous categories, including assists (7.70 aps), digs (2.38 dps), blocks (0.49 bps), and aces (0.43 aps).

Key Stats for William Smith (7-7, 0-1 Liberty League): The Herons are a tough serving team, averaging 2.94 aces per set, but that aggressiveness comes at a price, as the team is also giving back more than four service errors per game. Malya Sayre leads the conference in points per set by nearly one, averaging 5.05 per game, including 4.15 kills per set and 0.75 aces per set. She has produced 20 or more kills in five matches, and is certainly the team's go-to hitter, surpassing 40 attacks in eight matches in 2023.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#16 Olivia Freer: OH; 6' 0"; Junior

#13 Sara Galante: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#1 Abigail Spector: L/DS; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#10 Allyson Treichel: MH; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#16 Olivia Freer
: 6' 0"; Junior
: OH

#13 Sara Galante
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#1 Abigail Spector
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: L/DS

#10 Allyson Treichel
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: MH