POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 16, 2016) – The Vassar College women's volleyball team heads to Rochester, NY this weekend for the first round of Liberty League action. The Brewers seek to build on last weekend's success at the Vassar Invitational. Vassar College will take on St. Lawrence, Bard College, Clarkson, and RIT in a weekend of all-conference play.

Game Details
Opponents: St. Lawrence College (4-5), Bard College (2-6), Clarkson University (5-3), Rochester Institute of Technology (6-3)
Links: (SLU Home Page) (Bard Home Page) (Clarkson Home Page) ((RIT Home Page)
Site: Rochester, NY
Facility: Clark Gym
Date: September 16, 2016
Time: 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Date: September 17, 2016
Time:  2 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats)

Last Time Out: The Brewers swept all their opponents last weekend at the Vassar Invitational. Strong serving at defense set up success for the Brewers.  Vassar outscored their opponents 302-187 in these contests.  The Brewers were strong in every category, finding success at the service line, net, and in the backrow.

A Look At The Brewers:

• The Brewers have spread the offense with three hitters totaling over 75 kills on the season.
• Leading the conference, the Brewer offense is averaging over 12 kills per set, thanks to setter Annie MacMillan also leading the conference with 9.91 assists per set—MacMillan is ninth in the nation for total assists.
• Vassar leads the lead in hitting percentage with .210. Jane McLeod and Devan Gallagher create a strong offensive line, both hitting .261.
• The Brewers have been strong behind the service line, with 82 aces to date.
• As a squad the Brewers have not been afraid to lay their bodies on the line as they have eight different players with over 20 digs so far in the season.  

A Look At The Saints:

• The Saints lead the conference in blocks with 1.89 blocks per set and in solo blocks with 24.
• The Saints' Amanda Teppo leads the Liberty League in blocks with an average of 0.92 blocks per set.
• SLU comes into this weekend's crossover with a strong defense, allowing only 8.08 kills per set on the year and leading the League.
• Masha Kolensikova, Katie Kull, and Julia Wagner lead the Saints in service aces/set with Kolensikova at 0.58 aces per set and Kull and Wagner at 0.57 aces per set.

A Look At The Raptors:

• The Raptors come into this weekend's tournament with a 2-6 record, having won two of their three home contests, but losing in their last two matches.
• Bard's Emily Anastasi leads the Raptors in service aces per set at 0.58, placing her in third place in the conference.
• The Raptors lead the Liberty League in opponent blocks, allowing just an impressive 0.98 blocks per set against them.
• The Raptors also lead the League in service aces per set with 2.73 aces per set.

A Look At The Golden Knights:

• The Golden Knights come into this tournament on a two-game win streak, having won five of their eight contests.
• Defensively, the Golden Knights lead the conference with 19.68 digs per set, with 610 digs on the season.
• Clarkson's Rachel Reusch leads the Liberty League in hitting percentage with a .355 percentage; she is second in the conference in blocks, with an average of 0.71 blocks per set.
• A strong defensive force for the Golden Knights, Kate Isaksen comes into the game with an average of 6.71 digs per set and 208 digs on the season.

A Look At The Tigers:

• The Tigers' strongest offensive force, Sarah Szybist, comes into the tournament with an astounding average of 5.39 kills per set—she is the national leader in kills per set, points per set, and total kills.
• The Tigers come into the weekend with 439 assists and averaging 11.5 assists per set, placing them comfortably at the top of the conference in assists.
• RIT places fourth in the nation in both team kills and team service aces, which gives credence to their already impressive offensive statistics.
• Erin Parkinson of the Tigers leads the team in assists with 274 on the season and an average of 8.84 assists per set, placing her third in the Liberty League.

Against St. Lawrence All-Time: Vassar is 18-8 all time against St. Lawrence, losing the last two games 3-1 and 3-0.

Against Bard All-Time: Vassar is 19-0 all time against Bard, having won the last 11 games in straight sets.

Against Clarkson All-Time: Vassar is 11-15 all time against Clarkson, losing in straight sets the last seven meetings.

Against RIT All-Time: Vassar is 9-17 all time against RIT, winning four of the last eight games played.

Up Next: Vassar continues Liberty League action next weekend both at home and in Annandale-on-Hudson, the home of the Bard College Raptors.  The Brewers take on RIT and Bard College on Friday, September 23rd at Bard and Skidmore College and Union College on Saturday, September 24th.  The Friday games are at 4 and 6 p.m. and Saturday's contests take place at 12 and 4 p.m.