Clarkson Thwarts St. Lawrence Rally 3-1 in Hard-Fought Match

SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team completed a spectacular 2025 regular season with a doubleheader sweep of Fisher College at home.  The Bears won the first match 25-11, 25-13 and 25-17, then returned for a 25-12, 25-16, 25-14 sweep in the second match. Potsdam closed out the regular season at 18-7 overall and 5-1 in league play.  The Bears will enter the postseason flying high on a 12-match winning streak, and the second seed in the Northeast Volleyball Conference semifinals next weekend at Nichols College. (Kyton Deon photo)

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04/05/25 - The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (18-7) defeated Fisher College (0-17) in two matches by identical 3-0 scores on Saturday afternoon. The victories wrapped up the Bears' regular season. They extended their program record winning streak to 12 games and set a new single season mark for overall victories with 18.  The Bears rolled to a 25-11 win in set one. It was more of the same in a 25-13 second set. The Falcons battled in the fourth set, but Potsdam closed out the match with 25-17 win. Sophomore middle hitter Benson Jovel-Truong (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) led the Bears with seven kills and five digs. Sophomore outside hitter Dylan Murray (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) had six kills and sophomore outside hitter Darius Dorsey-Rhule (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont) added five kills and four digs. Freshman setter Liam Yusko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) had 17 assists and sophomore Alex Lombardo (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) totaled 12. Junior outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) had a contest best 13 digs.  The Bears continued to overpower the Falcons in the second match taking 25-12, 25-16 and 25-14 victories.  Sophomore outside hitter Calum Anderson (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) paced Potsdam with eight kills and nine digs. Murray had another seven digs, three aces and six digs and Dorsey-Rhule contributed six kills. Yusko posted a career-high 25 assists and two aces. Tenhagen had 10 assists and nine digs.  The Bears are back in action on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the NEVC Semifinals at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass. Their opponent is yet to be determined.

Clarkson captured the first two sets 25-19 and 25-19.  St Lawrence rallied in Set 3, 25-21, before Clarkson clinch the match with a fourth set victory 25-17, for a 3-1 win. Clarkson improved to 8-9 overall, while St. Lawrence fell to 10-5.  (Kyton Deon photo)

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10/7/25: Marin Hangliter and Conley Burns combined for 35 kills on the outside as the Clarkson University Volleyball team ran a diverse offense to down St. Lawrence in four sets, winning 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 25-17, on Tuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium. The win was a key one for the Golden Knights, as they improved to 1-3 in the Liberty League and 8-9 overall, while St. Lawrence saw its record fall to 10-6 and 1-2 in conference games. Clarkson has the weekend off from league contests, instead playing Hamilton College in a non-conference game on Saturday. Most of the sets on Tuesday saw St. Lawrence jump out to early advantages, but only in the third could Clarkson not make a comeback. In the opener, the Saints were up 10-6, but the Knights came back to tie the set at 11-11, briefly take the lead at 13-12, and take the lead for good at 18-17. In fact, the Knights ended the set on an 9-2 run, capped by a kill from Hangliter. The second set began with the Saints rolling out to a 10-4 lead, but again Clarkson came back to tie the game at 13-13 thanks to an ace from Olivia Baxter. The two teams seesawed back and forth for the next few points, only to see Clarkson end on another key run, winning nine of the final 12 points, as Hangliter delivered a pair of kills to close out the set. For a third consecutive set, St. Lawrence started off strong with an 8-3 lead, but this time the Knights could never get closer than two points. Several times in the middle of the game, the Knights scored key points, only to see the Saints quickly stop the rallies. The Knights made a late run, but Bridget Gammons scored two late kills to extend the match. The fourth was more of a back-and-forth affair, but the Saints held the advantage for much of the first stretch of points. The Saints led 15-12, but Clarkson got two kills from Emily Alexander and then two more from Hangliter to take the lead. After a brief tie, the Knights rattled off seven straight points thanks to a strong service line from Natasha Aquirre, helping Clarkson to finish off the match. Hangliter finished with 21 kills and 15 digs to lead the Clarkson offense, while Conley Burns added 14 kills and 10 digs. Ashley Currier split her playing time as a setter and hitter, producing 19 assists but also recording a 9-1-22 line as a hitter. She also contributed a pair of block assists and 10 digs. Natasha Aguirre added 20 assists and four aces, Olivia Baxter had 22 digs and five assists, and Jordyn Leader had three block assists. St. Lawrence was led by Bridget Gammons, as she knocked down 14 kills, and Adeline Riesenberger, who had 10 kills. Cassady Smith was big in the back row with 35 digs and Vanessa Latam notched 41 assists and 10 digs.

SUNY Canton's Melissa McMaster (17) finesses the ball over SUNY Potsdam defenders Emme Price (9) and Mikayla Myers (4).  In very close and entertaining four sets, Potsdam outlasted Canton 3-1.  The Bears won the first set 25-21, the Roos evened the match with a 25-20 win.  Potsdam outlasted Canton 27-25 in Set 3, then finished the night with a 25-21 win. Mickayla Myers led Potsdam with 14 kills and 1 block...Nicole Hansen added five aces, 13 digs and three assists. For Canton, Ashton Houppert dished up 34 assists and 11 digs.  Melissa McMaster pounded out 16 kills and six blocks.(Kevin Fisher photo)  Match Gallery

SUNY Canton’s Captain Peyton Robinson (6) tipped the ball over Potsdam’s Nicole Hansen (10) fingers to score a point for the Roos. (Zachary Matthie photo)  Match Gallery

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 October 18: Kelsy Cornish (Honeoye, NY) posted double digit kills for the 16th time this season but the SUNY Canton volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision (18-25, 18-25, 25-27) to visiting St. Lawrence University on Tuesday evening in the Roos House. Cornish led the Roos with 11 kills and nine digs, while Shea Norton (Batavia, NY) added eight kills on 21 swings. Peyton Robinson (Bloomfield, NY) dished out 25 assists to go with her six digs, while Jenna Roat (Penfield, NY) tallied a match-best 18 digs. Morgan Wicks (Hartford, NY) produced nine digs, while Brynna Harris (Mead, CO) pinpointed a match-high two service aces and Jocelyn Racette (Port Kent, NY) added four digs. The Saints (10-15) jumped out to a 17-11 lead in the opening set on their way to securing a 25-18 victory. After St. Lawrence jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the second frame the Roos battled back within 12-11 after a Harris service ace. The Roos (13-14) would never get closer than one as the Saints pulled away late for a 25-18 win. Play was much closer in the final frame as SUNY Canton opened up a 20-16 advantage after a kill from Cornish and Saints attacking error. The Roos had their first match point leading 24-23 but a Saints kill from Wagner extended the match. The hosts had one other chance at the set after a Marissa Ixtlahuac (Carthage, NY) kill, but three straight points including a kill from Maddy Ruehl and ace from Maddy Bishop closed out the match.

The Bears’ Mikayla Myers (4) smacks the ball while the Roos Ashton Houppert (10) attempts the block.   In very close and entertaining four sets, Potsdam outlasted Canton 3-1.  The Bears won the first set 25-21, the Roos evened the match with a 25-20 win.  Potsdam outlasted Canton 27-25 in Set 3, then finished the night with a 25-21 win. Mickayla Myers led Potsdam with 14 kills and 1 block...Nicole Hansen added five aces, 13 digs and three assists. For Canton, Ashton Houppert dished up 34 assists and 11 digs.  Melissa McMaster pounded out 16 kills and six blocks.  (Kevin Fisher photo) Match Gallery
SUNY Potsdam’s Emme Price (23) spikes the ball between St. Lawrence’s Marissa Parker (5) and Amanda Teppo (13). Potsdam won the third set, after dropping the first pair.  St. Lawrence squeezed out a win in the fourth set for a 3-1 final. (Zachary Matthie photo)  Match Gallery
SUNY Potsdam’s Rachel Pridell (9) slams the ball past two of SUNY Canton’s defenders Skye Hansen (8) and Melissa McMaster (17) in a score for the Bears.  SUNY Potsdam went on to defeat SUNY Canton in a three-set sweep.  (Zachary Matthie photo)  Match Gallery

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Aug 30. The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team finished out the weekend at the SUNY Canton Invitational with a 3-2 win, over Wells College (1-2).   The Bears opened up the match with a 25-19 win in the first set. They then fell 25-20 in the second set. The match continued to be a see-saw battle with a 25-15 win in the third set and a 25-10 loss in the forth set. The Bears completed the comeback in the fifth set, knocking off the Express 15-12 for the victory.   Senior outside hitter Sharon Ofori (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) led the Bears' offense with nine kills.  Sophomore Libero Sloane Campbell (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) had 17 digs and two aces and junior outside hitter Chelsea Sunday (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) had 16 digs, two aces  and four kills of her own. Freshman setter Rachel Topf (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) had 11 digs, four aces and 26 assists.  Freshman outside hitter Kelsey Tompkins (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) finished the match with four-and-a-half blocks, three aces and six kills. With the win the Bears are 2-1 on the season.   Potsdam's next match will come on September 9, when the Bears host the Victory Promotions Invitational at Maxcy Fieldhouse. The opening match takes place at 3 p.m. between the Bears and the Saints of St. Lawrence University.

Aug 29. The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team (1-1) split its two matches on opening day at the SUNY Canton Invitational. The Bears opened play with an early afternoon 3-0 setback to the host Roos (2-0), before bouncing back for a late evening 3-2 win over SUNYIT (0-2).   Against the Roos, Potsdam fell by scores 25-20, 25-19 and 25-9. In her first action in a Bears uniform since Oct. 20, 2010, graduate student outside hitter Annie Smith (Chateauguay, N.Y./Chateauguay) led Potsdam offensively with eight kills. Senior outside hitter Tia Wright (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) finished the match with two kills, two digs and two-and-a-half blocks. Junior outside hitter Chelsea Sunday (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) returned to the Potsdam lineup for the first time since Nov. 11, 2005 and added three kills and three digs. Senior outside hitter Sharon Ofori (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) totaled three kills and sophomore defensive specialist Sloane Campbell (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) chipped in a team-high seven digs.   In the nightcap against the Wildcats, the Bears fell 25-15 in the first set before responding with a 25-14 victory in set two. SUNYIT put Potsdam on the brink with a 25-21 win in the third set, before the Bears rallied for 25-23 and 15-12 victories in the fourth and fifth. Freshman setter Rachel Topf (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) had a strong performance for Potsdam with six kills, 35 assists and 16 digs. Sunday added to her total for the day with a game-high 13 kills to go with nine digs. Wright finished with nine kills, seven digs and two-and-a-half blocks. Campbell posted a game-high 17 digs, while senior libero Gabby Arana (Williston Park, N.Y./Herricks) rounded out the leaders with 12 digs.   Potsdam is back in action tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. when the Bears face Wells College to close out the tournament.

Clarkson captured the first two sets 25-19 and 25-19.  St Lawrence rallied in Set 3, 25-21, before Clarkson clinch the match with a fourth set victory 25-17, for a 3-1 win. Clarkson improved to 8-9 overall, while St. Lawrence fell to 10-5.  (Kyton Deon photo)

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10/7/25: Marin Hangliter and Conley Burns combined for 35 kills on the outside as the Clarkson University Volleyball team ran a diverse offense to down St. Lawrence in four sets, winning 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 25-17, on Tuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium. The win was a key one for the Golden Knights, as they improved to 1-3 in the Liberty League and 8-9 overall, while St. Lawrence saw its record fall to 10-6 and 1-2 in conference games. Clarkson has the weekend off from league contests, instead playing Hamilton College in a non-conference game on Saturday. Most of the sets on Tuesday saw St. Lawrence jump out to early advantages, but only in the third could Clarkson not make a comeback. In the opener, the Saints were up 10-6, but the Knights came back to tie the set at 11-11, briefly take the lead at 13-12, and take the lead for good at 18-17. In fact, the Knights ended the set on an 9-2 run, capped by a kill from Hangliter. The second set began with the Saints rolling out to a 10-4 lead, but again Clarkson came back to tie the game at 13-13 thanks to an ace from Olivia Baxter. The two teams seesawed back and forth for the next few points, only to see Clarkson end on another key run, winning nine of the final 12 points, as Hangliter delivered a pair of kills to close out the set. For a third consecutive set, St. Lawrence started off strong with an 8-3 lead, but this time the Knights could never get closer than two points. Several times in the middle of the game, the Knights scored key points, only to see the Saints quickly stop the rallies. The Knights made a late run, but Bridget Gammons scored two late kills to extend the match. The fourth was more of a back-and-forth affair, but the Saints held the advantage for much of the first stretch of points. The Saints led 15-12, but Clarkson got two kills from Emily Alexander and then two more from Hangliter to take the lead. After a brief tie, the Knights rattled off seven straight points thanks to a strong service line from Natasha Aquirre, helping Clarkson to finish off the match. Hangliter finished with 21 kills and 15 digs to lead the Clarkson offense, while Conley Burns added 14 kills and 10 digs. Ashley Currier split her playing time as a setter and hitter, producing 19 assists but also recording a 9-1-22 line as a hitter. She also contributed a pair of block assists and 10 digs. Natasha Aguirre added 20 assists and four aces, Olivia Baxter had 22 digs and five assists, and Jordyn Leader had three block assists. St. Lawrence was led by Bridget Gammons, as she knocked down 14 kills, and Adeline Riesenberger, who had 10 kills. Cassady Smith was big in the back row with 35 digs and Vanessa Latam notched 41 assists and 10 digs.

Clarkson’s Adrienne Walker (11) sends the ball past SUNY Plattsburgh’s Emily Miller (6).  (Jenne photo) Match Gallery

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Oct. 18: After conjuring up a hard-fought five-set triumph on Friday night, the Plattsburgh State volleyball team (5-19) was unable to stay on the winning track as it fell to SUNY Canton and No. 16 Clarkson by identical 3-0 scores in its final two matches of the Golden Knight Invitational on Saturday afternoon. MATCH ONE: SUNY Canton 3, Plattsburgh State 0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-18) Back-and-forth play dominated the early stages of the opening set, as the Cardinals found themselves trailing by just one point, 8-7. From there, though, SUNY Canton began to string points together at an alarming rate. The Kangaroos closed out the set on a 17-6 surge to obtain a 1-0 lead in the match. In the middle frame, Plattsburgh State managed to gain the upper hand with a 10-8 edge over the Kangaroos. Once again, though, SUNY Canton battled back to take the lead. This time the Kangaroos took seven of the next eight points before embarking on another run – this one of the 10-3 variety – to put the frame away. The momentum the Kangaroos had gathered up through the first two sets was present in their corner again as SUNY Canton leaped out to a 7-1 lead in the deciding frame and didn't slow from there. Plattsburgh State hit .000 in the match and was led by a five-kill performance from senior Maggie Schrantz. The Buffalo, N.Y., product chipped in two of the Cardinals' eight service aces while freshman Jordynne Ales added a team-best three. Miranda Sheffer accumulated 10 digs for Plattsburgh State while Meghan Clifford added a team-best 14 assists. Morgan Bills paced SUNY Canton on the offensive end, pounding down 11 kills to go along with three service aces and a trio of block assists. Mackenzie Mynter added a double-double of 21 assists and 15 digs – both of which were match highs. MATCH TWO: No. 16 Clarkson 3, Plattsburgh State 0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-17) Facing off against one of the top teams in all of NCAA Division III volleyball, the Cardinals were hard-pressed to put together any consistent offense. Furthermore, the Golden Knights showcased their talent from the service line, amassing 12 aces during the three-set bout. Eight attack errors in the first set made things tough on Plattsburgh State, which hit -.069 in the opening frame. Even though the Cardinals cleaned up their offensive game, the Golden Knights were able to maintain substantial leads in each of the final two sets to close out the match. Schrantz and Sheffer each tallied six kills while Emily Miller added two terminations of her own to go along with two block assists and three digs. Ales made a team-high 12 digs while Clifford added a Plattsburgh State-high 14 assists. Victoria Kirkemo was the top offensive threat for Clarkson as she posted an 11-kill, 10-dig double-double to go along with five service aces. Evanne Jiminez added a match-high 17 digs for the Golden Knights and Lauren Hutchinson totaled 36 assists. The Cardinals will take part in a midweek, non-conference match at St. Lawrence on Tuesday night. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Oct. 17: Battling well into the late hours of the night, the Plattsburgh State volleyball team was finally able to put the brakes on its eight-match losing streak by taking down Utica College 3-2 (25-11, 25-21, 21-25, 15-25, 15-9) in the second match of the 2014 Golden Knight Invitational hosted by Clarkson University.   Thanks to the win, Plattsburgh State sees its record move up to 5-12 while the Pioneers drop to 8-17.   A big part of the Cardinals' latest triumph was the play of junior Emily Miller who struck for a match-high 16 kills to go along with three solo blocks and a pair of block assists. The AuSable Forks, N.Y., product registered a hitting percentage of .308 to lead the way.   Coming out of the gates in the strongest of fashions, the Cardinals put down 14 kills on 36 swings en route to a set one win. After factoring in a pair of attack errors during the frame, Plattsburgh State's attack percentage moved to .333.   Utica proved almost powerless to slow down the Cardinals in the second set, too. Although Plattsburgh State's attack percentage was .044 in the set, the Cardinals' defense limited the Pioneers to a mark of -.138.   In search of its first three-set triumph since September 12, Plattsburgh State instead let Utica get back into the conversation by surrendering a 25-21 score. With the momentum clearly in its corner, the Pioneers didn't let their attack slow much in the fourth frame.   Plattsburgh State suffered from a poorly-timed offensive outage as it registered an attack percentage of -.089.   The Cardinals' offense, though, came back stronger than ever in the fifth and deciding set. On 20 attack attempts, the Cardinals hammered down seven kills and a pair of attack to earn a 15-9 win and clinch the match.   In addition to Miller's great game, Plattsburgh State also got double-digit kill contributions from freshman Miranda Sheffer (11) and senior Maggie Schrantz (10). Both Schrantz and Sheffer put the finishing touches on double-doubles by racking up 23 and 22 digs respectively.   Sheffer and Jordynne Ales each chipped in three of the Cardinals' nine service aces while senior Meghan Clifford recorded a match-high 44 assists.   For the Pioneers, Samantha Hoerning led the way with 11 terminations while Briona Enny tallied a team-high 21 digs.   Plattsburgh State will shoot for back-to-back victories on Saturday when it crosses paths with SUNY Canton at 2 p.m. The Cardinals will wrap up their three-match weekend with a meeting against host and No. 16-ranked Clarkson at 4 p.m.