Alliance, Ohio: The Big Red finished their opening weekend at the Mount Union Invitational in a battle with the Golden Knights from Clarkson University.  After falling behind early 1-2, the Big Red rattled off back-to-back wins to secure the five-set win. Denison moves to 3-0 and Clarkson drops to 1-2.

Up Next: The Big Red will host Hope College next Friday in Livingston Gymnasium for the first home action of the season.

Game 1(Denison 3, Clarkson 2) (25-22, 16-25, 19-25, 25-23, 16-14)
The Big Red opened the Saturday with their seventh consecutive set, taking down the Golden Knights 25-22. The Golden Knights fired back with a dominant second set, serving three aces and leading by as much as 11 points.

In the third set, Clarkson hung a quick 5 points to start out up 5-0. Denison was able to claw back but could not overcome the powerful attack of the Golden Knights. With their backs against the wall, Emily Monachino recorded the first point to give Denison an early lead. Both squads traded blows early, but the duo of a Kate Sicklick ace and a kill from Claire Hamilton sparked a big run for Denison.

With Denison up 20-15, Clarkson recorded 6 unanswered points to take their first lead of set 4. Down 1, Alice Kempf assisted Claire Hamilton in back-to-back plays to take the 24-23 lead. Clarkson called time, but was silenced by a perfectly placed ace by Kate Sicklick to send the match into a tiebreaking set.

In the tiebreaking set, the Big Red ultimately prevailed in electrifying fashion. The Golden Knights struck first, but both teams traded punches back and forth. Knotted up at 14 all, Claire Hamilton took advantage of the assist from Sadie Habeeb to move the game to match point. Needing just a point, the Kate Sicklick serve was returned to Alice Kempf, who placed a perfect assist for Claire Hamilton to notch the final mark, securing the comeback win and moving the Big Red to 3-0 in their opening weekend.

Emily Monachino and Ayla Dunbar led both teams with 19 kills apiece. Alice Kempf recorded a game-high 47 assists. Sadie Habeeb, Ryan Kotalik, Kate Sicklick, and Ayla Dunbar all collected an ace in the matchup. 

Mount Union Volleyball Invitational - All-Tournament Team

#3 Alya Dunbar (DEN)
#4 Delaney Sims (ALF)
#6 Conley Burns (CLA)
#13 Emily Monachino (DEN)
#14 Jillian Fellers (MAR)
#17 Averi Haley (UMU)
#18 Annabelle Hacker (MAR)
#20 Madeline Ozersky (DEP)