Women's Volleyball | 11/2/2015 3:29:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT volleyball team (21-18) is the No. 4 seed in the 2015 Liberty League Postseason Tournament and will face top-seed Clarkson University (25-8) in the first semifinal at Clarkson on Friday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. No. 2 seed Union (28-5) will face No. 3 seed St. Lawrence (17-17) in the second semifinal at 7:30 p.m. The two semifinal winners will meet for the championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
 
RIT enters the tournament fresh off a 3-1 weekend at the New York State Regional Challenge, hosted by Nazareth College. RIT, who went 7-5 in Liberty League play, is looking to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
 
Junior Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein) leads the Liberty League with 483 kills and 4.16 kills per set. Freshman setter Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) leads the conference with 1,176 assists, averaging 9.1 per set, which is third. She also leads the team with 329 digs. Sophomore Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) is right behind with 327 digs, while Laiz Novaes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Centro Educational) has 285 digs, 281 kills, and 42 service aces. Senior Amy Van Hienen (Castor, Alberta/Gus Wetter) has a team-best 50 service aces, while classmate Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) has 65 blocks to pace the team.
 
Szybist is fifth all-time at the university with 1,782 career kills in three seasons. She is 195 away from the program record.
 
Clarkson, ranked No. 17 in the AVCA Division III national poll, is going for its fourth straight Liberty League Championship. The Golden Knights went 12-0 in Liberty League play for the third straight season and has won 42 straight games including the postseason against league foes. The Tigers are 0-2 against Clarkson this season, falling in three sets on Oct. 2 and in four sets on Oct. 24. RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 25-16. Alshvina Arasu leads the Golden Knights with 380 kills, while Kirstie Shurle has a team-best 1,039 assists. Tara Stilwell leads Clarkson with 413 digs and 55 service aces, while Danielle Farabee has 51 blocks to lead the way.
 
Union finished 9-3 in league play to earn the No. 2 seed. The Dutchwomen have won their last three matches and both meetings against RIT this season. On Oct. 16, Union defeated RIT in five sets, and a week later, defeated the Tigers in three sets. The all-time series between the two schools is tied 8-8. Rachel Wyman leads the team with 366 kills, while Amanda Price has 1,146 assists and 44 service aces. Defensive specialist Katherine Moeller has 566 digs, averaging 4.53 per set. Lauren Woods is the team leader with 146 blocks, including 54 of the solo variety.
 
St. Lawrence was tied with RIT in league play, going 7-5, but won the tiebreaker against the Tigers. The two teams split the season series, as RIT won in three sets on Oct. 2, while St. Lawrence recorded the five-set win on Oct. 23. RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 27-21. Lexi Brown leads the Saints with 339 kills, while Katie Kull has a team-high 1,067 assists. Defensively, Mariah Dignan leads the squad with 581 digs, and Cristina Deschaine has 114 blocks.