Vassar Volleyball Falls at Home Against Clarkson

By Steven Merritt

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Vassar College Women’s Volleyball team fell to 1-1 in Liberty League play on Saturday afternoon as Clarkson defeated the Brewers 14-25, 25-17, 8-25, 10-25. Sophomore Hailey Hayes led the team in kills with nine.

Clarkson took an early 8-3 lead in the first set as Allyson Treichel buried two kills in the early action. The lead jumped to 12-4 for the Golden Knights following a service ace from Alexandra Bergantz. Vassar cut the lead back to 9-14 after kills from sophomore Julia Hale and freshman Melia Voss. The Golden Knights took control of the first set and won it 14-25 on a kill from Isabelle Crow.

The second set was back and forth through the first 15 points as both teams countered with winners. The Brewers scored four straight points following the 15-15 tie as junior Ava Casalino buried a kill to key the Vassar lead. Hayes, Hale and freshman Molly Delahunty combined for four kills in the final seven points to earn a second set victory at 25-17.

The Golden Knights took control of the third set early as they stormed out to 7-3 lead on a kill from Sara Galante. Following a Hayes kill that slowed the run, Clarkson tallied 16 of the next 19 points to take a 23-7 lead and went on to win the set 8-25.

Vassar took an early 6-4 lead in the fourth set as freshman Rebecca Gutierrez tallied a service ace following a Hayes kill. The set went in favor of Clarkson midway through but a Delahunty kill kept the Clarkson lead at 12-10. However, the Golden Knights took the final 13 points of the match and earned a 3-1 victory to move to 2-0 in Liberty League play.

Hayes finished the day with nine kills and four digs while Gutierrez added seven kills and three service aces. Voss handed out 24 assists for the Brewers while junior Maya Levine had a team-high 12 digs.

Treichel finished the game with a game-high 15 kills and added three blocks for the Golden Knights. Kristen Werdine buried 12 kills, 12 digs and three service aces while Crow handed out 35 assists and added eight aces. Emma Baxter had a game-high 19 digs while Bergantz added 10 digs.

Vassar heads to Union College on Wednesday evening for a Liberty League contest in its next match. First serve with Union is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.