CU Volleyball Preview - vs. Cortland State/Nazareth (11/4)

Ben Moeller

Women's Volleyball | 11/1/2023 3:00:00 PM

Closing out the regular season this weekend before starting off the Liberty League playoffs, the Clarkson University Volleyball team will take on a pair of teams it has seen in the postseason before as the Golden Knights match up against SUNY Cortland and Nazareth in a tri-match on Saturday at Alumni Gymnasium.

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The Series: Clarkson played both of these teams in the NCAA Tournament back in 2011, the first of six times that the Golden Knights hosted the NCAA Regionals. Clarkson downed Nazareth in the first round and then fell to Cortland in the semifinals, and the Knights faced Naz again in 2012 in the first round as well, on their way to the regional title that season. Overall, Clarkson is 5-10 against Cortland, with the Red Dragons winning the last two matches, 3-0 in 2022 and 3-2 in 2021. The Knights are 9-16 against Nazareth, sweeping the Golden Flyers in the last meeting of 2019.

Key Stats for Clarkson (12-10): The Golden Knights will be looking to right the ship offensively, as the team has not hit above .200 since its win against Union on October 14th. Clarkson has plenty of options to look to as nine different players are averaging better than a kill per set in 2023, with only Sara Galante (3.23 kps) and Allyson Treichel (2.11 kps) over two kills per game. Middles Julia Bennett and Tess Sorel each rank in the top five in the Liberty League in hitting percentage, with Bennett at .333 (third) and Sorel swinging at a .289 clip (fifth). Clarkson's defense leads the Liberty League in digs per set at 17.03, with junior Abigail Spector topping the conference in digs per set at 4.96.

Key Stats for Cortland (20-3): The Red Dragons finished off the SUNYAC schedule unbeaten thanks to a solid all-around roster. Anna Pilkey and Allie Sturgess are the top two hitters in terms of volume at 2.81 kills and 2.63 kills per ser, respectively, but it is Alexa Guedez who is the most efficient, hitting a robust .365 with 1.91 kills per set to go along with 0.95 blocks per set. Ryan Hinshaw (5.17 assists per set) and Meadow Wittman (4.71 assists per set) split the setting duties, and Wittman averages half an ace per set. Defensively, Mikenzie Martens is averging just under five digs per set (4.93 dps).

Key Stats for Nazareth (9-15): The Golden Flyers are six games under .500, but still had a winning record in the Empire 8 at 5-3. Tessa Grover is the Flyers "do-everything" player, serving as a setter and then a hitter when she rotates around to the net. Grover averages 3.56 kills, 3.64 assists, 2.21 digs, 0.40 aces, and 0.67 blocks per set and has a .269 hitting percentage as well. Leah Fusilli is the only other player above two kills per set (2.08), while Ruth Jackson is the only other regular besides Grover to be hitting above .100 (.109). Ella Kules also chips in 4.96 assists per set and 0.42 aces per set, while Zipporah Sparkman contributes 0.78 blocks per game.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Julia Bennett: MH; 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

#19 Tess Sorel: MH; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Julia Bennett
: 6' 0"; Junior
: MH

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

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

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

#19 Tess Sorel
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MH