Utica, NY (9/7/12)- The Utica College volleyball team hits the road this weekend as they head to Hamburg, NY for the Hilbert Invitational at Hilbert College.  UC takes on the host team Saturday at 12 p.m. followed by Alfred University at 2 p.m.

Last Time Out: Utica is off to its best start in recent memory as it downed Cazenovia College (3-0) and SUNY IT (3-2) in a tri-match on Wednesday.  Sophomore Madison Bayer (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip) had a team-high 24 kills in the two games. 

Sophomores Stepping Up: Sophomores led the way on Wednesday as they accounted for 65 kills in the two games.  Along with Bayer, classmate Cassandra Manzer (Portcrane, NY/Chenango Valley) registered 18 kills against SUNY IT.  Chelsea Lauria (Erieville, NY/Cazenovia) also totaled 84 assists on the day and Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) had ten digs. 

Scouting Hilbert: The Hawks are currently 1-1 after a split in the NEAC Challenge at D'Youville.  Hilbert downed Morrisville State 3-0, before falling to Keuka 3-1.  The last meeting between the two teams came in 2010, when Hilbert defeated Utica 3-1.

Scouting Alfred: The Saxons are 1-0 after beating Cazenovia 3-2 on Saturday.  They went 10-17 (1-6 Empire 8) in their 2011 campaign.  UC fell to Alfred 3-1 and 3-0 in their two meetings last year

Next Time Out: Following this, Utica heads to Cobleskill, NY on Wednesday for a non-conference contect against SUNY Cobleskill.  Game time is 7 p.m.


                                                                                   --- www.ucpioneers.com ---