Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, (November 2, 2012) – Drama ruled the court and was befitting of an intense semifinal Liberty League volleyball playoff match between No. 3 Vassar and No. 2 Clarkson. The Golden Knights rallied back from a 2-1 set deficit to defeat the Brewers in a five-set thriller 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 13-15) Friday evening at Skidmore College.

In the deciding fifth set, one that had Vassar in comeback mode throughout, sophomore Marie Pitre nearly brought the Brewers a victory with a sensational set that saw her earn four kills and a service ace. Clarkson jumped ahead 9-1, but the Brewers impressively stormed back into the set to close within 14-13. 

The loss drops Vassar to 20-11 on the season. Clarkson improves to 27-6. The Golden Knights will face No. 1 Skidmore in the Liberty League Championship on Saturday at 4:00 pm. Skidmore advanced to the finals with a 3-0 sweep over RIT.

It wasn't until the fourth set that Clarkson earned a lead larger than two points. A Vassar attack error led to a 10-5 Golden Knights lead and behind the play of Victoria Kirkemo, the Golden Knights surged ahead 13-9. The Brewers made a run, closing to 13-11 on a kill by sophomore Clara Cardillo, but Clarkson found its rhythm with back-to-back kills from Alshvina Arasu and Bailey Walker for an 18-12 lead, prompting a Vassar timeout. The final stages of the set were thrilling as Vassar closed within 21-19 after Pitre connected on a kill. Clarkson's Adrienne Walker responded with back-to-back kills for a 23-20 lead and teammate Kirkemo added the final two points for a 25-21 Clarkson win, tying the match at 2-2.

Vassar took advantage of five Clarkson attack errors down the stretch to win the pivotal third set 25-19. Tied 17-all, the Golden Knights scored only two points off their offense. The Brewers earned the victory with a timely kill from senior Chloe McGuire and subsequent service ace from junior Megan Anderson. Clarkson did hold a 13-11 lead, but a kill from junior Jessie Ditmore tied the set at 13-13 and only three ties emerged from that point, the last at 17-all.

The Brewers got out swiftly (5-2) and only trailed once in the second set, at 13-12. From that point, Vassar built two four point leads at 19-15 and 20-16 and continued to gain momentum. Sophomore Taylor Mosley was a strong offensive force, earning 10 kills in the set and led the Vassar charge down the stretch. She earned  kills on four of Vassar's last five points to earn the Brewers a match-tying 25-19 win.

The first set was tied 15 times. The Brewers were down 23-21 but got a kill from Cardillo and then tied the set at 23-all when McGuire connected on a kill. But the Golden Knight responded with back-to-back kills from Walker for the 25-23 win. The Brewers, behind a Clarkson service error took a 13-10 lead. Vassar surged ahead again by three points, 14-11, following a Clarkson attack error. After a Vassar attack error, Clarkson tied the set at 14-all, and the set would toggle back-and-forth for eight subsequent ties.

McGuire led the Brewers with 15 kills, followed by 13 from Mosley and 12 from Ditmore. Pitre's late match heroics earned her nine kills. Senior Hilary Koenings had 54 set assists. In a strong defensive effort, freshman Chloe Hallum had 29 digs, Ditmore earned 20 and McGuire 17.

Clarkson was led by Kirkemo with 17 kills and 14 each from Arasu and Walker.