NCAA Womens Volleyball

Volleyball Looks for More Upsets at Liberty League Tourney

Volleyball Looks for More Upsets at Liberty League Tourney


SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – After pulling off the only upset of the first round, the sixth-seeded Union College women’s volleyball team will head to Ithaca looking to keep the magic going at the Liberty League Tournament. Union will take on second-seeded and defending champion Clarkson University in the semifinal round on Friday at 4 p.m.
 
FINAL FOUR: Union and Clarkson will face off in the first semifinal at 4 p.m., followed by top-seeded Ithaca College and fourth-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology in the second semifinal. The winners advance to the championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE: For those that can’t make it to Ithaca, live stats and live video will be available for Friday’s contest.
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Union is making its fifth appearance in the Liberty League Tournament since the postseason switched to its current qualification format in 2011. Union is making its third appearance in the semifinals and is 3-4 in those five appearances (2013-16, 2022). Union is 31-39 all-time in Liberty League Tournament play, including back-to-back Liberty League titles in 2007 and 2008 that saw Union go 4-0 each season.

LAST TIME OUT: In the first Liberty League Volleyball Tournament to feature six teams, Union became the first six seed to win with a thrilling 3-2 (25-20, 15-25, 25-20, 23-25, 17-15) victory over third-seeded William Smith College in Geneva. First-year Shannon McGrath and junior Keara Page led the team with 17 and 15 kills, respectively, while senior Haley Kresch had the team’s lone double-double with a season-high 32 assists and 12 digs. First-year Georgia Pool added a game-high 22 digs and senior Denesha Lafontant recorded a match-best five blocks for Union as well in the win.

 

Union became just the fourth sixth seed in any sport to advance in a Liberty League Tournament and just the second to win a game outright against a third seed, joining Skidmore College men’s soccer (2021 vs. RIT). Two other six seeds advanced in penalty kicks after finishing in a tie.

 

UNION VS. CLARKSON: Union and Clarkson have a slightly longer history than Union’s last opponent, having faced off 81 times on the court since the first meeting in 1977. While Union owns a 43-38 edge in the all-time series, the Golden Knights have dominated recently, winning six straight matches and 19 of the…

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