Potsdam, NY – For the third straight season, the Clarkson University Volleyball team claimed the Liberty League Tournament Championship and will represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament with its second consecutive automatic bid, defeating third-seeded RIT in three sets (25-21, 25-17, 25-19) Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights, ranked 16th in the country in the latest AVCA poll, won their 30th straight match against conference opponents on Saturday, dating back to the 2012 Liberty League Tournament Championships. Clarkson also won its 62nd straight match against a New York Region opponent, tying the longest run in the region since Cortland State had a similar run from 2009-2011. New York University rattled off 90 straight from 2003-2007.

In the opening set, RIT displayed a solid block that frustrated the Knights, forcing Clarkson into several hitting errors. With the two teams tied at 19-19, Clarkson turned the tables on the Tigers, forcing several attack errors and, coupled with a pair of kills from Aishvina Arasu (Brea, CA), the Knights recorded six of the final eight points to take the first set.

The second set saw RIT jump out to an early lead, but Clarkson quickly recovered to take the lead, but the two teams were knotted at 13-13. Clarkson then rallied with nine points in the next 11 serves with a strong effort from the service line from Arasu and Kirstie Shurie (LaCanada, CA). Up 24-15, the Knights allowed a pair of points which only delayed the inevitable as Victoria Kirkemo (Englewood, CO) ended the set with a kill.

What turned out to be the final set did not appear so midway through as Clarkson trailed by three points (16-13) after a kill from Sarah Szybist. However, Clarkson picked up three straight points on aces from Kirkemo and Arasu and another ace from Kirkemo. The Knights would fall behind by a point twice in the next few moments, but the team took a one-point deficit (18-17) and turned the set into a 25-19 win thanks to another push from the service line by Shurie.

"I thought RIT started the match with a good plan and a lot of purpose," head coach Johan Dulfer said. "Once our serve receive kicked in we were able to limit our errors and execute our game plan a little better. I thought our serving game, specifically, was really good today, and I was impressed with how together we were on and off the court all night. Winning a championship in a competitive league is not easy and Annie and I are incredibly proud of this group and their efforts all year. We look forward to what's in store for the rest of post-season."

Victoria Kirkemo recorded 11 kills and 11 digs, while Lauren Hutchinson (Spring, TX) and Aishvina Arasu each delivered seven kills. Evanne Jimenez (Ventura, CA) and Shurie each added in four aces, with Jimenez also contributing 10 digs and Shurie leading the offense with 22 assists. Danielle Farabee (Katy, TX) also chipped in three blocks, including two solo efforts.

Sarah Szybist led RIT with 14 kills and also added nine digs and three aces. Laiz Novaes had nine kills and 12 digs, while Bethany Davis also scored 17 digs. Emma Dowdy keyed the offense with 25 assists.

Shurie and Kirkemo were picked to the Liberty League Championships All-Tournament team as Co-MVP, and RIT had two named to the team as well in Szybist and Dowdy. Cristina DeSchaine (SLU) and Katherine Moeller (Union) also gained the honor.