With the majority of one of the top-ranked offenses in the country returning in 2015, it was no surprise that the Clarkson University Volleyball team was picked by the conference coaches as the favorite in the Liberty League Pre-Season poll released on Wednesday. The poll marks the fourth time in five years that the Golden Knights have begun as conference favorites, and in the other year they had the same number of first-place votes and were just two points shy of the top spot.

The Golden Knights, who will open their season in a tri-match against Cortland State and Houghton on September 1st, received all six first-place votes from the conference coaches (RIT received the other first-place vote from the Clarkson coaching staff) as a regular-season three-peat is anticipated. Clarkson hasn't lost to a conference opponent since the regular-season conference finale of 2012 and has claimed 30 straight league wins, including three straight post-season titles. Over the course of the last two years, Clarkson is 28-0 and has a record of 84-3 in those sets, suffering one-set stumbles against Union three times combined in 2013 and 2014.

Guided by 10th-year head coach Johan Dulfer and second-year assistant Annie McShea, Clarkson has eight returning players and six newcomers for 2015, with three of the veterans having received both AVCA All-American and Liberty League First-Team all-star status last season. Clarkson was eighth in the country in hitting percentage (.252) and returns both of its AVCA All-American outside hitters in seniors Victoria Kirkemo and Aishvina Arasu. The reigning conference player of the year, Kirkemo led the nation in total aces with 113 and lapped the Liberty League field, doubling the next highest total in the conference. Kirkemo and Arasu both are among the top 10 active players in kills with both having surpassed 1,000 for their careers midway through the 2014 season. A two-time AVCA All-American, Arasu ranked second in the conference in kills per set (3.43) and was 10th in hitting percentage (.236). Running the offense was AVCA Second-Team All-American Kirstie Shurie, producing nearly 11 assists per set last year which was three more than any other player in the league. Sophomore Rachael Aird, a two-time conference Rookie of the Week award winner, ranked second in the league in hitting percentage at .318. Senior Danielle Farabee, like Aird a middle hitter, ranked fourth in hitting percentage (.288) and was seventh in blocks (0.57 bps), coming on strong down the stretch with an 11-kill performance against Skidmore and 12 more kills in the conference tournament against Union.

The most vital part of Clarkson's success in the past few seasons has been the depth that accompanies its star power. Senior Lauren Hutchinson showed her versatility last year when Shurie went down with an injury, stepping in as the team's setter and averaging 9.8 assists per set over the course of nine matches. Juniors Katrina Lane and Sierra Rhoades provided big matches in the stretch run with Lane providing another offensive option and Rhoades coming up big defensively in the NCAA Tournament.

Clarkson's back row was hurt by a pair of transfers and another player graduating, but the coaching staff hit the recruiting road hard for top-notch replacements. Freshmen Tara Stilwell, Meghan Edmund, and Kendall Cheval were all brought in as defensive specialists for the back row, while outside hitter Sophia Holms is also an excellent defender. Classmate Savannah Peters will be another force on the front row for Clarkson and freshman setter Jillian Saenz will provide some insurance and strategy as the team's second setter should the team decide to alter its offensive attack against some opponents.