SKIDMORE (14-8, 3-2 LL) at ITHACA (16-6, 4-1 LL)
Game Details: Friday, Oct. 20 | 6:00 p.m.
Location: Ithaca, N.Y. – Ben Light Gymnasium
Game Links: Stats | Video
 
SKIDMORE (14-8, 3-2 LL) at RIT (12-14, 1-4 LL)
Game Details: Saturday, Oct. 21 | 1:00 p.m.
Location: Rochester, N.Y. – Gordon Gym
Game Links: Stats
 
 
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After a milestone night on Wednesday, the Skidmore College volleyball team looks for another on the road this weekend, as the Thoroughbreds fight for their first Liberty League playoff berth since 2012. Sitting in the way are Ithaca on Friday at 6 p.m. and RIT in the league finale Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The Thoroughbreds (14-8, 3-2 Liberty League) are in an enviable position in the conference standings, sitting in fourth place at 3-2, a match ahead of fifth-place St. Lawrence. The Thoroughbreds defeated St. Lawrence in five thrilling sets in the conference opener on Sept. 22, so a victory against Ithaca or RIT should assure Skidmore of postseason play. Additionally, Skidmore will clinch by Friday night if Union defeats RIT and Vassar defeats St. Lawrence. Skidmore could move as high as second place with a pair of victories and a pair of losses by Clarkson and Ithaca.
 
Skidmore comes off a milestone four-set victory over Plattsburgh on Wednesday. The victory marked the 500^th career win for longtime Skidmore head coach Hilda Arrechea. Arrechea, in her 23^rd season at the helm of Skidmore Volleyball, has a career record of 500-300 (.625) and ranks 29th among active NCAA Division III coaches in wins. During her tenure, Skidmore has reached the NCAA tournament eight times and won four league championships.  Her teams have posted 17 winning seasons, including nine seasons of 25+ victories and a school-record 38 wins (38-5) in 2000. Arrechea's athletes have received All-American honors 17 times.
 
Leading the Thoroughbreds this season offensively is Katy Ehnstrom. The sophomore leads the league and is 25th in the nation with a .354 hitting percentage, and is seventh in the conference with 2.84 kills per set. Junior Caite Canfield leads the team and is fifth in the league with 3.30 kills per set. Sophomore Lauren Wolters is 33rd nationally and third in the Liberty League with 9.89 assists per set. Junior Allie Dillon leads the team with 3.73 digs per set.
 
 
SCOUTING ITHACA
 
Ithaca opens its first year in the Liberty League with a 4-1 conference record and a 16-6 mark overall. The Bombers are one of the hottest teams in the league, winners in nine of the last 10 matches. Reagan Stone leads the offense, hitting .263 and averaging 2.69 kills per set. Joelle Goldstein leads the team with 2.71 kills, while Amanda Cerruti has a team-leading .282 hitting percentage in 68 sets played. On the other end, Cerruti is third in blocks (0.79/set) and Tara Stilwell is fourth in digs (4.84/set).
 
The teams last played at the Brockport Invitational on Sept. 4, 2015. Skidmore took the first set before Ithaca rallied to sweep the last three as the Bombers won in four.
 
SCOUTING RIT
 
The Tigers (12-14, 1-4 Liberty League) are still alive in the race for the final spot in the league tournament as the league's regular season draws to a close this weekend. The Tigers need to win out and rely on a pair of Skidmore losses to sneak into the postseason.
 
RIT comes off a three-set loss to Ithaca on Wednesday. Leading the Tigers this season is Taylor Higgins, who sports a 3.41 kills per set average, hitting .194. Higgins also leads the team with 30 service aces. Erin Parkinson is among the league leaders in assists, averaging 8.78 helpers a set. On the defensive end, Rebecca Bennett averages 2.70 digs per set to lead the way.
 
Last season, RIT won both matches of the season series with the Thoroughbreds, winning in three on Sept. 23 and in five on Oct. 7.