New York, NY - Both the stat sheets and the scoreboard showed balance for the Clarkson University Volleyball team on Friday night, but unfortunately that led the Golden Knights to a split at the New York Regional Challenge on the opening night of the 12-team tournament.

The Golden Knights moved to 24-6 overall on the season, beating Stevens Institute of Technology in three sets (25-23, 25-23, 25-21) and then losing to the University of Rochester in five sets (17-25, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12). Clarkson will take on Mount St. Vincent in the morning and host NYU in the afternoon.

Thought Clarkson swept the Ducks in its first match of the day, each set was incredibly close and forcing the Golden Knights to make key plays at important moments. Fortunately for the Knights, the offense came in numerous directions with no player recording more than seven kills, but six having at least six kills. Aishvina Arasu (Brea, CA), Danielle Farabee (Katy, TX), and both Adrienne and Bailey Walker (Centennial, CO) produced seven kills each while Victoria Kirkemo (Englewood, CO) and Lauren Hutchinson (Spring, TX) delivered six apiece. Junior libero Erika Chin (Katy, TX) continued to see her digs per set increase by coming through with 23 in the three-set win, while Kirkemo finished wtih 12 as the only other player to reach double digits. Lani Durio (Austin, TX) and Kirstie Shurie (LaCanada, CA) shared setting duties and came through with 17 and 13 assists, respectively. Adrienne Walker had the best all-around match, adding in three aces and four total blocks, including two solo.

In the five-set loss to the Yellowjackets, Clarkson won the first set handily, but dropped the next two. After coming back to win the fourth set, the Knights succombed in the sprint set, falling by three points. Arasu and Kirkemo each had 13 kills and Farabee and Adrienne Walker had 12 kills apiece in the middle. Chin again was busy in the back row with 35 digs, tying her season-high, a total she has reached three times in 2012.

Shurie and Durio combiend for 49 assists in the second match, with Shurie having one more than the junior. Each also posted 10 digs. Additionally, Kirkemo posted a double-double by adding in 13 digs and Farabee led the team with five block assists.

"We chose some unfortunate times to disappear and take easy and non-aggressive shots," coach Johan Dulfer remarked. "When we learn to eliminate those moments we are going to be a team to watch next weekend."