Annandale-on-Hudson, NY – Allowing barely 12 points per set over the course of two matches, the Clarkson University Volleyball team was able to open up the Liberty League season with a pair of victories Friday night, defeating RIT in three sets (25-15, 25-10, 25-8) and Bard College (25-9, 25-21, 25-9).

The Golden Knights, ranked 16th in the latest AVCA Poll, improved to 13-2 overall and moved to 2-0 in the Liberty League. RIT fell to 7-4 with its loss to the Knights, while Bard dropped to 2-12.

The difference in the match between the Knights and the Tigers was Clarkson's ability to minimize its miscues while RIT struggled offensively at the net and from the service line. Clarkson crushed 25 kills with just five errors in 45 swings (.444 hitting percentage) in the first two sets, while RIT swung at a .000 clip with 12 kills and 12 errors in 51 attempts. In the third set it appeared as if the Tigers had righted themselves with a quick 4-2 advantage in the early going, but Clarkson rattled off 17 straight points to take a 19-4 lead with Victoria Kirkemo (Englewood, CO) enjoying an extended run from the service line that helped boost her match-high total of four aces. From that point, the Knights cruised to the three-set win.

Junior Aishvina Arasu (Brea, CA) battered the Tigers with a .647 hitting percentage with 11 kills and no errors in 17 swings. Kirkemo also hit at .467 with eight kills and just one error in 15 attempts while Adrienne Walker (Centennial, CO) added seven kills in 15 swings. Overall, the Knights finished at .386 (35-8-70). Junior setter Kirstie Shurie (LaCanada, CA) led the team with 29 assists and Evanne Jimenez (Ventura, CA) had a team-best 14 digs.

Bard proved to be no match for Clarkson in the second game of the evening, though the Raptors put a small scare into the Knights by pushing past the 20-point mark. However, Clarkson's offense was more than enough in the other two sets, keeping the Raptors below 20 points, total, in the bookend sets.

Sophomore Sierra Rhoades (Poway, CA) led the way with 14 kills on just 20 attempts to hit .600 in the match, while Lauren Hutchinson (Spring, TX) struck at a .625 clip on 10 kills with no errors in 16 swings. Shurie averaged nearly 13 assists per set by dishing out 38 in the match, while Jimenez contributed 11 digs. Kirkemo added nine kills and five aces, and Kristen Orlandini (Fairport, NY) produced four more aces.