The Utica College women's volleyball team defeated host SUNYIT 3-0 (30-20, 30-23, 30-21) Saturday afternoon, but fell in the night cap 3-2 (19-30, 30-28, 20-30, 30-24, 15-13) to Keuka College at the SUNYIT Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (2-5) cruised in the opening match led by senior classmates Andrea Dekker (Reeths-Puffer/Muskegon, MI) and Karen Crisanti (Geneva/Geneva), who combined for 16 kills, five service aces and 15 digs. Freshman setter Kaitlin Farruggia (Mt. Markham/Leonardsville) tallied five kills and 35 assists, while Melissa Austin (Beaver River/Castorland) posted five kills and a team-high 11 digs.

Game two pitted the Pioneers against the Storm of Keuka College (5-2) and it proved to be a five game thriller. UC outscored Keuka 125-114 over the course of five games but came out on the losing end after falling 15-13 in the final game. Crisanti (17), Dekker (17), and Austin (14) all tallied double-digit kills, while Farruggia posted 49 assists and a career-high nine kills. Junior middle hitter Mereoni Vunibobo (Cathedral/Jamaica) and Brielle Swerdlin (W. Morris Mendham/Chester, NJ) combined for 11 kills, while freshman Sarah Lucia (Sauquoit Valley/Cassville) posted a career-high five service aces.

UC returns to action Friday at the Union Invitational. UC takes on Union at 6:00 p.m. followed by Oswego at 8:00 p.m.