POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 30, 2015) – The Vassar College women's volleyball team (7-6, 2-2 Liberty League) will head to Rochester this weekend to play four crucial Liberty League contests, battling St. Lawrence University and Bard College Friday night, before taking on host Rochester Institute of Technology and No. 18 Clarkson University Saturday afternoon. The Brewers have been off since last Wednesday after knocking off Hunter College in three straight games.

Match Details
Opponent: vs. St. Lawrence University (9-9, 3-1 LL)
Links: (St. Lawrence Women's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Rochester, NY
Facility:  Clark Gym
Date: October 2, 2015
Time:  6 p.m.

Opponent: vs. Bard College (7-8, 0-4 LL)
Links: (Bard Women's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Rochester, NY
Facility:  Clark Gym
Date: October 2, 2015
Time:  8 p.m.

Opponent: at Rochester Institute of Technology (10-7, 0-0 LL)
Links: (RIT Women's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Rochester, NY
Facility:  Clark Gym
Date: October 3, 2015
Time:  12 p.m.

Opponent: vs. No. 18 Clarkson University (12-3, 4-0 LL)
Links: (Clarkson Women's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Rochester, NY
Facility:  Clark Gym
Date: October 2, 2015
Time:  2 p.m.

What To Look For
The Brewers have one of their biggest weekends of the season coming up this Friday and Saturday, as the race for one of the four Liberty League Tournament spots heats up. Vassar picked up two wins during their first conference weekend, and each of the four teams VC plays this weekend will pose a tough task. During the last two seasons, it took seven Liberty League wins to make the playoffs, so a few victories for the Brewers this upcoming weekend would go a long way towards their goal of competing for the league title during the first week of November.
 
A Look At The Saints (9-9, 3-1 Liberty)
The Saints had rattled off six straight victories before dropping their last contest to the University of Rochester in four games last Saturday. After starting 2-7, SLU has posted a 7-2 record over the last two weeks, thanks to some solid attacking, hitting above .230 in five of those matches, all wins. SLU comes into the weekend with the league's most kills with 800, while posting the second-best hitting percentage with a .203 clip.

Offensively, senior Lexi Brown has led the way with 2.77 kills per set for the Saints, though Cristina Deschaine and Masha Kolesnikova each have added over two kills per game for St. Lawrence. Kolesnikova leads the team in service aces this year with 32, which is currently third-best in the Liberty League. Mariah Dignan leads the team from the back with 4.54 digs per set, and Katie Kull is second in the conference in assists per game with 9.06 helpers a set.

Against St. Lawrence All-Time
The Brewers hold an 18-7 all-time record against the Saints, with the two squads have split the last four games. Earlier this season, Vassar dropped a four-setter to the Saints at Skidmore.

A Look At The Raptors (7-8, 0-4 Liberty)
The Raptors are having one of the their best seasons in recent memory, as Bard comes into the weekend on a three-game win streak. Over that three game stretch, the Raptors haven't dropped a set. In Liberty League action though, Bard struggled in the first weekend, going 0-4 earning just one game against St. Lawrence. One of Bard's strengths this season has been its service game, as BC has posted 171 aces on the season, most in the Liberty League.

Freshman Sofia Koukia has been the main option offensively for the Raptors, as she currently has 161 kills and 3.22 terminations per set, both team highs. Koukia's kills per set mark is third-best in the conference. Victoria Chou, the team's setter, leads the Liberty League in service aces per game with 0.73, while Koukia is second on that list with 0.68 aces per set. Libero Philippine Alba is eighth in the conference in digs per game with 3.00, and Chou is currently sixth in assists a game with 6.98.

Against Bard All-Time
The Brewers have played Bard College 17 previous times in the history of the series, and Vassar College has captured the win in all 17 contests. During the series, Bard has only earned two games all-time.

A Look At The Tigers (10-7, 0-0 Liberty)
Rochester Institute of Technology has come on as one of the top teams in the conference over the last few seasons, much in part to the play from Sarah Szybist. The 2013 Liberty League Rookie of the Year has been a force offensively, as she led the conference in kills a season ago and again is atop the kills per set standings this year with 3.95 terminations a game. RIT's offense ranks third in the conference in attacking efficiency with a  .166 hitting percentage, while RIT's defense has held opponents to the fewest finishes per game in the Liberty League, surrendering just 8.34.

Other than Szybist, the Tigers have a strong contingent that can get the job done when given the ball. Laiz Novaes has posted 2.62 kills per set this season as well, while Amy Van Hienen has posted 93 on the year. Van Hienen leads the team with 28 service aces, and Erin Parkinson has quarterbacked the offense with 459 assists on the campaign. Middle Kayla Wheeler has a team-high 33 blocks, and libero Rebecca Bennett has added 136 digs out of the back row.

Against RIT All-Time
The Brewers are 9-15 against the Tigers all-time, dating back to 1989. Vassar's last win over the Tigers came back during the 2013 season, and the last five matches with these two teams have gone at least four games.

A Look At The No. 18 Golden Knights (12-3, 4-0 Liberty)
The Golden Knights continue to be the top dog in the Liberty League, as Clarkson has not lost a conference match since 2012, winning their last 28 within the League. CU went 37-4 last year, but has already lost three times including losses to No. 18 Mount Union in five sets and No. 5 Juniata in four games. Clarkson leads the League in hitting percentage (.241), assists per set (12.19), and kills per set (13.26).

 
Senior Aishvina Arasu is second the conference in hitting with a .352 attacking rate, also posting the league's top kill number with 184. Teammate Danielle Farabee is tops in hitting league-wide with a .356 clip, while senior stud Victoria Kirkemo has added 147 kills after earning Liberty League Player of the Year honors a season ago. Freshman libero Tara Stilwell has stepped right in as CU's lead back row player, averaging 4.40 digs per set. Farabee and Rachael Aird have been solid blocking as well, combining for 48 blocks so far.
 
Against Clarkson All-Time
Vassar and Clarkson make up 11 of the 15 Liberty League titles awarded since the conference's inception in 2000, as VC won the first seven while Clarkson has captured the last three. VC is 11-14 all-time against CU, winning the first 11 while posting a current 14-match loss streak to the Golden Knights.
 
Pocket Aces
The Brewers come into the weekend with the second-best service aces per set number in the conference with 2.59 a game. VC is 47^th nationally in the stat as well.
 
Devine Devan
Freshman Devan Gallagher (San Francisco, CA/Urban School of San Francisco) leads the team with 2.89 kills per set, and her hitting clip of .239 is tops among Brewers.
 
All Around Player
Junior Gabby Miller (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) has had a balanced and effective start to the season for VC, ranking second in kills for the Brewers. Miller also leads Vassar in service aces, total blocks and is second in digs.
 
Starting Duo
So far this year, only junior Gabby Miller and sophomore Bria Corham (Kansas City, MO/Montville Township) have started all 13 matches for the Brewers.
 
Only Need Three
This season, the Brewers have earned six of their seven victories in three sets, and have yet to play a five-set contest this year.
 
Up Next
The Brewers will return home for the first time in nearly a month next Wednesday evening, hosting Stevens Institute of Technology at 7 p.m. in Kenyon Hall. Vassar will host its Faculty/Staff Recognition Night as well pre-game.