The Utica College women's volleyball team went 1-3 at the Empire 8 Conference Cross-over Tournament hosted by St. John Fisher College Saturday and Sunday. The Pioneers defeated Alfred University 3-0 (30-16, 30-23, 30-17) on day one.

UC's three losses came at the hands of Hartwick 3-0 (33-31, 30-22, 30-22), RIT 3-0 (30-16, 30-21, 30-10) and Fisher 3-0 (31-29, 30-17, 30-19). The Pioneers are 6-11 overall and 1-3 in conference play this season. The tournament will resume on the weekend of October 20th at Alfred University.

Karen Crisanti (Geneva, NY/Geneva) and senior classmate Andrea Dekker (Muskegon, MI/Reeths-Puffer) each tallied a team-high 28 kills in four matches. Dekker posted 10 service aces, while Crisanti led the team with 88 digs. Freshman setter Kaitlin Farruggia (Leonardsville, NY/Mt. Markham) assisted on 85 kills, while tallying five blocks. Farruggia has 466 assists on the year, while Crisanti has posted a team-high 154 kills. Dekker is just 20 kills shy of Crisanti for the season.

Sophomore outside hitter Brielle Swerdlin (Chester, NJ/West Morris Mendham) averaged one kill a game and posted four service aces. She also recorded 52 digs and five assists. Classmate Melissa Austin (Castorland, NY/Beaver River) ranked third on the team with 26 kills and also tallied 63 digs. Middle hitter Mereoni Vunibobo (Jamaica, NY/Cathedral) blocked a team-high 11 shots and notched 11 kills, while freshman libero Sarah Lucia (Cassville, NY/Sauquoit Valley) averaged 4.83 digs per game.

UC returns to action Friday at the Hartwick College Tournament.
                                        # # #

Utica 3 - Alfred 0 (30-16, 30-23, 30-17) - BOX SCORE

Hartwick 3 - Utica 0 (33-31, 30-22, 30-22) - BOX SCORE

RIT 3 - Utica 0 (30-16, 30-21, 30-10) - BOX SCORE

Fisher 3 - Utica 0 (31-29, 30-17, 30-19) - BOX SCORE

Empire 8 Tournament Web Site