Canton, NY - Sophomore Rachael Aird and freshman Savannah Peters were virtually unstoppable in the middle for the Clarkson University Volleyball team on Tuesday night, as the duo combined to strike for 16 kills with a .467 hitting percentage in a three-set sweep of SUNY Canton, 25-16, 25-12, 25-19.

The Golden Knights, ranked 18th in the nation in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll, improved to 8-3 overall and will begin Liberty League play this weekend. SUNY Canton suffered its first defeat of the year, falling to 8-1. Prior to Tuesday's match against Clarkson, the Kangaroos had lost just one set in their eight matches.

"Canton is one of the most improved teams in the state over the past few years," Clarkson head coach Johan Dulfer said, "and playing in their gym is never easy, so we knew we had to be focused and couldn't take any points for granted. That's really been a point of emphasis for us the past weeks. It was great to see we have learned that lesson and I thought we played very patient and poised today, with a lot of focus. With the kind of schedule that we're playing this year, we have to fight for every point. I am very proud of the progress we hve made since week one of the season and can't wait to see how it translates as we start the Liberty League schedule this weekend."

In the first two sets, Clarkson won rather handily, especially in the second when the margin reached double figures rather quickly with Kirstie Shurie delivering a solid run from the service line, but in the third set SUNY Canton began to find itself by avoiding the block of the Golden Knights and catching the Clarkson players off guard. Regardless, Clarkson was able to maintain a modest advantage throughout the set, with Shurie again taking command from the service line to give the Knights a comfortable advantage at the close of the set and the match.

Aird and Peters each had eight kills with just one error in 15 swings, matching one another with a .467 hitting percentage. Both Aishvina Arasu and Victoria Kirkemo delivered seven kills as the outside hitters weren't used as much, and Shurie had 32 assists. Freshmen Tara Stilwell and Kendall Cheval each delivered 10 digs from the back row, with Stilwell also posting four aces.