Utica, NY (10/12/12)- The Utica College volleyball team returns to action this weekend as it travels to Oneonta, NY for the Hartwick/Holiday Inn Invitational.  On Friday, the Pioneers take on Lebanon Valley College at 6:30 p.m. followed by Keuka College at 8:30 p.m.  On Saturday, UC takes on SUNY Cobleskill at 11 a.m. and Plattsburgh State at 1 p.m.

Last Time Out: Utica is coming off a 3-2 loss at nearby SUNYIT on Wednesday… Sophomore Madison Bayer (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip) had an impressive performance leading the team in both digs (17) and kills (14).  Classmate Cassandra Manzer (Portcrane, NY/Chenango Valley) was second with 12 kills and 12 digs, while Kellee Furno (Baltimore, MD/Maryvalle) had a team-high 23 aces.

Where We Sit: Utica is currently 5-15 overall and 1-4 in the Empire 8 conference… UC is tied with Hartwick for sixth in the conference standings… Following this weekend, UC has six matches remaining.

Hartwick/Holiday Inn Invitational: For more information about the tournament, or for scores, standings, and match updates, please visit the tournament webpage http://hartwickhawks.com/sports/2012/10/11/WVB_1011123108.aspx
At the end of competition on Saturday, an all-tournament team will also be announced and released on the tournament webpage. 

Leading the Way: Bayer leads the team with 147 kills and 16 aces… She is also third on the team with 126 digs… Manzer is second on the team in kills (145) and digs (130) and has 11 aces on the year… Sophomore Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) has a while-high 173 digs, while classmate Chelsea Lauria (Erieville, NY/Cazenovia) has 255 assists… Junior Hayley Strife (Lowville, NY/Lowville) leads the team in blocks (38) and is second on the squad with 15 aces.

Scouting Lebanon Valley: The Dutchwomen are 13-12 overall and 4-3 in the Commonwealth Conference… They are coming off a three-game sweep at the Middle Atlantic Conference Crossover… Lebanon Valley is led by sophomores Kellsie Groff and Kacey Musselman… Groff has 206 kills, while Musselman leads the team in service aces (43) and digs (282)… This will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.

Scouting Keuka: The Storm is 16-4 overall and 7-1 in the NEAC… It is coming off a 3-1 weekend at the NEAC Crossover… Keuka defeated Morrisville, Cobleskill, and Cazenovia by identical 3-0 scores, before falling 3-1 to SUNYIT… Junior Paige Golden leads the team with 238 kills and is second with 284 digs, while classmate Jill Nolan has a team-high 506 assists… UC is 0-2 against Keuka dating back to 2007… Last year the Pioneers fell 3-0 in the only meeting between the teams.

Scouting Cobleskill: The Fighting Tigers are 11-10 overall and 3-5 in the NEAC… They are coming off a 3-0 win over Green Mountain College on Wednesday… Utica defeated Cobleskill 3-2 on Sept. 12 this year.

Scouting Plattsburgh: Plattsburgh is 9-12 (0-4 SUNYAC) on the season… It is coming off a 3-1 loss to SUNY Canton on Tuesday… Senior Rosi Cummings leads the team with 193 kills and 281 digs… The only meeting between the teams was last year when the Cardinals defeated UC 3-0.

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers return to action Wednesday as they travel to Morrisville State for a match up against the Mustangs… Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.


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