Holland, MI – Returning to the site of two of its four NCAA Quarterfinal appearances, the Clarkson University Volleyball team was unable to pick up a win for the second straight day dropping a four-set match to Heidelberg University and falling in five sets to fifth-ranked Hope College at the Mid-West Invitational.

The Golden Knights saw their record fall to 17-8 overall. Clarkson will be back at it next weekend where the team will finish off the Liberty League regular-season schedule. The Golden Knights control their own destiny for the top spot in the conference as one of two teams with a record of 7-1 in the Liberty League.

In the opening match of the day, Clarkson and Heidelberg played to four sets with the Student Princes winning in four sets (25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 25-17). Despite playing to just four sets, the two teams combined for nearly 400 attacks and 220 total digs, the most in any match involving Clarkson all year thus far. Kate Isaksen tied her career-high with 42 digs in the match, but was joined by four other teammates in double figures in that category. Sophia Holms and Sierra Rhoades each tossed in 14 digs, while Katrina Lane (12) and Jillian Saenz (11) also reached double digits. Rachael Aird led the team offensively with 13 kills and a .294 hitting percentage, adding in three total blocks. Katrina Lane scored nine kills to go along with her 11 digs and Savannah Peters and Holms each had six kills, with Peters producing six total blocks. Rhoades also scored three aces and Saenz led the offense with 36 assists. For Heidelberg, Sarah Parker recorded 19 kills and Morgan Strenk was just behind with 17 kills. Rachel Raimondo and Megan Mills led Heidelberg with 34 and 26 digs, respectively, and Karlie DiRuzza had 57 assists on 66 total kills by the Student Princes.

In match number two, the Golden Knights pushed the Flying Dutch to the brink, but Hope College was able to escape with the five-set win (20-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 15-6). Clarkson was struggling on offense in the first set, but Maddie Bredehoeft made up for the deficiency with nine kills and just one error in 13 swings during the first game, a Clarkson victory. However, the rest of the match was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to get much in the way of momentum. In the final set, Hope raced out to an 8-2 lead and didn't let up, pushing the advantage to 13-3. Although the Knights cut into the margin slightly, the Flying Dutch simply outlasted the Knights for their final two points.

Bredehoeft finished with a line of 19-5-46 on attack, while Rachael Aird recovered from a slow start (2-4-10 in the first set) to finish with 15 kills overall (13-0-27 in final four sets). Katrina Lane added eight kills and Savanna Peters produced five blocks. Jillian Saenz tossed in 44 assists, 12 digs, five kills (5-0-16) and three aces), while Sierra Rhoades had a match-high four aces. Kate Isaksen recorded 28 digs and Sophia Holms added 18 digs. For Hope, Sophia Hackett had an impressive double-double with 59 assists and 21 digs, while Alexis Thompson chipped in 44 digs. Four members of the Flying Dutch scored 12 kills or more, led by Sarah Feldpausch's 19 kills. Courtney Van Houzen (17 kills), Katie Rietberg (12 kills) and Haley Muller (12 kills) also were leaned upon on offense for Hope.