Stevens 3, Utica 0 - Box Score - (25-11, 25-14, 25-11)

Hartwick 3, Utica 0 - Box Score - (25-23, 25-14, 25-6)

Utica, NY (9-24-11) – The Utica College volleyball team (1-13, 0-1 Empire 8) lost 3-0 to Stevens Institute of Technology (7-8, 1-0 Empire 8) in the opening round of the Empire 8 Cross-Over Tournament.  The Pioneers were led by New York Mills native freshman Alyssa Nicotera (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) who tallied four kills and four digs along with one ace.

Nicotera, in her freshman campaign, currently leads the team in kills (48), digs (91), and service aces (nine).

Ashley Jones (Charlton, NY/Galway), a freshman from Charlton, NY, added four kills for Utica and is second on the team behind Nicotera with 40 kills

Freshman Kellee Furno (Baltimore, MD/Maryvalle) posted a team-high 13 assists as the Baltimore, MD local lead the team with 73 on the season.

The Pioneers return to the court at 5:30 p.m. to face Hartwick College in the second match of the day.  The Hawks are currently 4-10 overall and hold a 2-2 record against E8 opponents this season.

The tournament resumes Sunday morning as UC will square off against Ithaca at 9 a.m. and then St. John Fisher at 2 p.m. The Ithaca Bombers currently hold a 6-6 ledger while the Cardinals of St. John Fisher sit in second place in the conference while

All nine teams are scheduled to play four games this weekend and three matches in the second conference weekend which will be hosted by St. John
Fisher the weekend of Oct. 21.