The St. Lawrence volleyball team lost 3-0 to Clarkson in the Liberty League Championship match in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints came out strong in set one, a block by Annika Kreppein gave them a 10-5 lead. A few points later the Golden Knights put together four straight points to tie the set at a 12. With the set tied again at 17, Clarkson scored the next eight points to take the first set 25-17.

The second set was again tight, with the North Country rivals tied at 22. Clarkson's Olivia Freer had a block assist, followed by a kill to give her team set point. A kill by Natalie Piper prolonged the set, but the Golden Knights won the next point, and the second set 25-23.

Clarkson won the third set 25-11 to secure their ninth conference championship, winning seven of the last eight.

"Today was not our day and a lot of that is credit to Clarkson," head coach Shelly Roiger said. "We were up halfway through the first set and then I felt like we were spinning the entire match after that. We were never really able to get rolling or string together a run."

Piper led the Saints with a dozen kills. Kreppein had 11, and Courtney Benson added seven. Piper and junior setter Allie Posnick each had a pair of service aces. Posnick had 31 assists in the match. Senior libero Reagan Collier-Hogan led the defensive effort with 15 digs. Kreppein added 12 digs, and Piper contributed 11.

Clarkson was led by Gillian Kurtic's 14 kills. Emmza Baxter led all players with 17 digs, and Isabelle Crow had 33 assists.

The Saints out-blocked the Golden Knights 6-5, but Clarkson had more kills (42-35), digs (58-49), and aces (7-4).

The Saints finish the season 17-11.

Final thoughts from Coach Roiger - 
"I am so proud of the way this team finished our season. We were playing our best volleyball of the season and that's all that we can ask for. As far as our seniors go, I'm not even sure where to begin. They have carried this team all season and taking the next step, a conference championship appearance, is a huge credit to our senior class. They are a tremendous class in every possible area: volleyball performance, leadership, competitiveness, teamwork, high integrity – you name it, they nail it. They are the model student athletes in the classroom and on the court and I am so thankful for their commitment and dedication. Their legacy will long be remembered and I am so fortunate their careers occurred in Scarlet and Brown."