POTSDAM -- It wasn't always pretty, but the Clarkson University Volleyball team was able to hold on for a three-set sweep against Baruch College in the opener of the North Country Classic, winning three tight games 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights play again at 8:00 pm, when they host St. Michael's College.

As the final scores would indicate, neither team ever gained much of a foot hold for momentum. No team ever led by four points in any of the three sets, with each claiming four-point advantages at one point in the match.

The separator seemed to be Clarkson's serving game of late, which always seemed to have Erika Chin (Katy, TX) on the back row when it counted. The sophomore produced three aces and served several other difficult points that allowed the Knights to jump out to late leads.

Sara Artus (St. Regis Falls, NY) and Bailey Walker (Centennial, CO) each scored 10 kills on the day, while Lani Durio (Austin, TX) had 33 assists and 4 aces. Chin tossed in 16 digs.

For Baruch, Lauren Hayden had a team-best six kills, while Megan Moody and Melinda Santiago split time at setter to combine for 15 assists. Posey Wilson chipped in 15 digs.

The second match of the day for the Knights saw the team take some time working out the kinks as St. Michael's decimated Clarkson 25-15 in the first set, keeping the Knights out of system and looking for answers.

However, the Knights recovered, getting the yips out of the way, to take three straight sets, 28-26, 25-18, 25-17. The second set obviously proved to be a key victory as it set up momentum for the final two in the match.

Clarkson's defense played up in the match against the Purple Knights, digging 62 balls, led by 21 from Erika Chin. Sara Artus added 15 digs and a team-best 9 kills. Freshman Becca Brabec (Lemont, IL) tied Artus with nine kills of her own, recording nine digs as well. Freshman Adrienne Walker also proved to be key in the middle, pushing across eight kills. Lani Durio ran the offense with aplomb, setting up 31 kills and striking for four aces.

St. Michael's was led by Katie Walsh, who had 10 kills but also fell prey to eight errors.

n the other match at Clarkson, St. Michael's fell to Baruch in four sets. The Purple Knights won the first set, 25-19, but Baruch took the final three 25-16, 25-16, 25-22.