POUGHKEEPSIE, NY -- With a particularly strong offensive performance from Rachael Aird and Jillian Saenz, Clarkson University defeated Union College in the first semifinal Liberty League Championship contest in three sets, with scores of 25-13, 25-22 and 25-17.

Clarkson improved to 20-14 overall and advanced to the championship match Saturday at 4 p.m. against either RIT or host Vassar. The Dutchwomen finish with a record of 25-11 and had an eight match winning streak snapped.

In the beginning of the first set the two teams stayed relatively even, trading off the one point lead. However, service errors from Union combined with a series of kills and stuffs from Aird gave Clarkson significant control at 16-8. The Golden Knights maintained that advantage as Aird continued to gain momentum. After she posted two consecutive kills and a tip, Clarkson went up 20-11. Although Ally VanDoren amounted seven points with six kills in the first set, she and her fellow Dutchwomen could not break the Clarkson offense. Dominating plays from Aird, Kendall Cheval and Rachel Reusch brought the first set win for Clarkson 25-13.  

Union rebounded  in the second. The teams remained neck and neck through the majority of the set, with occasional bouts of leads from both squads. Midway through the set, the Dutchwomen broke away from the Golden Knights at 16-10 as VanDoren, Alaina Thaxter and Alyssa Bonesteel asserted their offensive skills. Shortly after, a series of offensive plays from Aird, Saenz and Cheval as well as a pivotal dig from Sophia Holms put Clarkson within four points, 17-13. Union stayed ahead thanks to kills from VanDoren but the Clarkson offense soon took charge . The Golden Knights regained the lead at 23-22 as Reusch served two aces and Aird notched another kill. Two more kills from Aird gave Clarkson the second set, 25-22.

Although Union was competitive at the start of the third set, it could not stay with the Clarkson offense. After a kill from Aird, the Golden Knights went ahead 9-8 and never allowed Union back into the set. The Dutchwomen started to amount errors as Clarkson became more assertive offensively. Back to back digs from Cheval and Holms secured the advantage and the ultimate win for Clarkson as it went up 23-15. Aird put away the 25-17 victory for the Gold Knights with her twelfth kill of the game.

Saenz contributed with 24 assists and one block while Aird dominated with 19.5 points. For Union, VanDoren finished with 12 kills as Emma Sprotbery added five kills.

Union seniors at their final career match were Lauren Gibson, Ally VanDoren, Alyssa Bonesteel, Katherine Moeller, Amanda Price and Morgan Clark.