Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY
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For the second straight year, the Clarkson University Golden Knights (27-9) did not earn an automatic bid from the Liberty League. The squad had to wait to learn whether a NCAA Tournament bid was in its future. Fortunately for Clarkson, its hopes were affirmed when the NCAA Tournament committee selected them as the #4 seed in the New York Regional this weekend.
Though the Golden Knights were unable to defend its Liberty League crown last weekend, the tournament committee discounted the single loss and instead focused on the Knights overall body of work this fall, as the team went 3-3 against NCAA Tournament qualifiers, including a key victory against UMass-Boston, one of the top teams in the New England Region.
Clarkson is a well-balanced team with a dominant outside attack and a defense which continually frustrates and wears out opponents. Sara Artus was a Liberty League conference All-Star for the second straight year and also appears to have a good shot of repeating as an AVCA All-American. The junior outside hitter ranked 21st in the country in kills per set prior to the Liberty League Tournament and averaged close to five kills per set in that four-match streak. Artus posted 530 kills overall, while classmate Megan Mahon contributed 362 kills as well, also gaining Liberty League First-Team All-Star status.
Defensively, the Knights are led by senior libero Alison Schroeder with her 601 digs. A pair of freshmen also contribute heavily for the Knights’ back row, with newcomers Holly McDaniel and Erika Chin producing 395 and 337 digs, respectively.
