The second-seeded William Smith College volleyball team will travel to Ithaca, New York, to take on third-seeded Clarkson University in its first ever appearance in the Liberty League Tournament semifinals Friday, Nov. 10. Action between the Herons and the Golden Knights is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in Ben Light Gymnasium after the conclusion of the first semifinal match between top-seeded Ithaca and fourth-seeded Vassar.

Fans who can't make it to Ben Light Gymnasium can follow all the action with live stats and video courtesy of athletics.ithaca.edu.

ABOUT THE HERONS

• William Smith enters championship weekend with a 14-9 record (6-2 Liberty League) and clinched the two seed after a three-way tie breaker with Clarkson and Vassar.
• The Herons are ranked regionally for the first time in program history, sitting sixth in Region III.
• Sophomore Malya Sayre leads William Smith with 350 kills, averaging 4.07 per set. She is first in the Liberty League in kills per set (22nd in the nation), points per set (4.85, 14th in the nation), and third in service aces per set (0.59). Sayre has recorded seven double-doubles this season and seven matches with 20+ kills.
• Junior setter Elaina Wamhoff has 718 assists this season, averaging 8.35 per set. She is second in the conference in assists per set, and service aces per set (0.63). Wamhoff has recorded 20+ assists in 22 matches this season with 13 of them surpassing the 30 assists mark.
• First-year Maysie Malinaric leads the Herons in digs, recording 3.29 per set. She is followed by sophomores Marin Montagne (2.45) and Jaylynn McCarthy (2.28).
• William Smith leads the conferences in aces, averaging 2.78 per set as a team. Wamhoff leads the team with 54. Sayre follows with 51, while Malinaric has chipped in 38 this season.
• First-year Lindsay Umlauf brings a strong presence at the net and leads the Herons with 54 blocks. First-year Maren Hunt has added 39 blocks while Wamhoff chipped in 30.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

• Clarkson enters the weekend 14-11 overall (6-2 Liberty League) and is the third seed in the Liberty League Tournament. The Golden Knights defeated sixth-seeded RIT on Tuesday in a five-set thriller.
• Sara Galante leads Clarkson with 290 kills, averaging 3.22 per set (4th best in LL).
• Isabelle Crow has recorded a team-leading 597 assists and averages 6.71 per set.
• Abigail Spector leads the Liberty League in digs per set with 4.89.
• Clarkson ranks fifth in the conference in blocking, averaging 1.55 per set. Julia Bennett paces the Golden Knights with 0.85 per set.

SERIES SNAPSHOT

• William Smith defeated Clarkson 3-2 in a crucial conference clash in Bristol Gymnasium on Oct. 7.
• Sayre posted a game-high 19 kills (.175) and chipped in 11 digs.
• Wamhoff recorded 41 assists, 12 digs, four kills (.333), four blocks and two service aces in the five-set thriller.
• The series is tied at 1-1 with both teams winning on their home courts.
• This is the first time the two sides have seen each other in the postseason and first time at a neutral site.
• The winner of the second semifinal will advance to the Liberty League championship match against the winner of Ithaca and Vassar Saturday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. in Ben Light Gymnasium.