Potsdam, NY - With contributions coming from numerous sources, the Clarkson University Volleyball team outlasted Union College in four sets in the Liberty League Tournament Semifinals Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights, ranked 16th in the country in the latest AVCA poll, won the match against the Dutchwomen in four sets (25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 25-13) and will face RIT in the finals tomorrow at 4:00 pm. The Tigers defeated St. Lawrence in four sets (22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21).

"I give a lot of credit to Union for playing a terrific match," head coach Johan Dulfer said. "No matter who you are, it's very hard to beat a good team three times in one season. Their defense is always outstanding and I felt that it wasn't until we matched their defensive intensity that the match finally went our way. In the playoffs it's all about surviving and moving on. We're happy and grateful that we get to play for another championship and look forward to tomorrow."

Despite a hard-hitting offense that was coming from numerous angles, Union was able to keep the first set close thanks to a strong defensive effort. Union was up by three points following a kill from Amanda Price (14-11), but Clarkson rattled off eight of the next 10 points to take a three-point lead. The advantage was never relinquished and Clarkson finished off the set with a three-point win. The second set was tight until the midway point, when Clarkson came out of a 14-14 tie with 11 of the final 16 points, including six of the final eight points. However, Union wouldn't go down easily and reduced its errors in the third set while frustrating and confusing the Knights on defense. It wasn't until the fourth set that Clarkson unveiled a different level of dominance striking for 19 kills, with Katrina Lane (Seattle, WA) coming off the bench to bang down four winners and Danielle Farabee (Katy, TX) doing the same.

Aishvina Arasu (Brea, CA) had 17 kills to lead Clarkson, while Victoria Kirkemo (Englewood, CO) added 13 kills, 15 digs, and a pair of aces. Farabee hit .391 in the match with 12 kills and Adrienne Walker (Centennial, CO) added in nine more along with two solo blocks. Kirstie Shurie (LaCanada, CA) produced 50 assists, 14 digs and three aces and Evanne Jimenez (Ventura, CA) added 15 digs. Katrina Lane had six kills in three sets and Sierra Rhoades (Poway, CA) also added 10 digs. Clarkson improved to 33-3 on the season.

For Union, Rachel Wyman hit .350 in the match with 17 kills and Morgan Clarkon added six blocks. Amanda Price had a double-double with 18 assists and 10 digs and Katherine Moeller recorded 28 digs. The Dutchwomen saw their season come to an end at 24-12.

In the opening match of the day, St. Lawrence won the first set with a strong run down the stretch, but couldn't find that groove in the next three sets as RIT became the lower-seeded team to win a Liberty League semifinals match in the four-year history of the tournament. The Tigers utilized significant runs in each of the sets to pull away at key times to create their wins. In the second set, St. Lawrence and RIT were separated by just one point midway through the game, but the Tigers scored six of the final eight teams, coupling a kill from Sarah Szybist and two St. Lawrence errors to even the match at 1-1. In the third set, the Tigers raced ahead in the early going, jumping out to a seven-point lead (11-4) to force a Saints' timeout, and the advantage extended to as many as nine (17-8). The Saints climbed back to within three points (19-16), but once again some key kills for the Tigers down the stretch made the difference. In the final set, St. Lawrence gained a 6-5 lead in the early going, but RIT rattled off seven straight (12-6) and never led by fewer than four points the rest of the way to earn the upset.

Szybist totaled 19 kills, but also had 11 errors in 46 swings, while Amy Van Hienen and Laiz Novaes each delivered 11 kills. Emma Dowdy ran the office to the tune of 46 assists, also chipping in three blocks, just two short of Kayla Wheeler's five. Bethany Davis also added 11 digs for the Tigers. RIT moved to 22-16 on the season.

For St. Lawrence, Cristina DeSchaine hit nearly .500 with 10 kills and just a single miscue in 19 attempts, tossing in five blocks as well, while Lexi Brown had a team-best 12 kills. Jenna Street also had 17 assists and seven digs, while Katie Kull produced 10 assists and three aces. Mariah Dignan led the defensive charge for the Saints with eight digs. St. Lawrence's season came to an end with a record of 24-13.