(10/7/13)- The Utica College volleyball team returns to the hardwood on Tuesday and Wednesday as it takes on SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY IT in non-conference action.  On Tuesday, the Pioneers host the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill in the 2013 edition of the squad's annual "Dig Pink" match to benefit breast cancer research and awareness. On Wednesday, UC will travel across town to take on local rival SUNYIT.  Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Dig Pink: The match against Cobleskill will serve as Utica's annual "Dig Pink" match to support the fight against breast cancer… The Pioneers will be wearing special edition pink uniforms, as well as selling pink t-shirts, holding a bake sale, and raffling off prizes… Included in the raffle is an Adirondack Chair donated from Risley's Rush Point in Raquette Lake, as well as different themed gift baskets… The Pioneers will also be accepting donations all night with proceeds benefitting the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

It's Been Awhile: The Pioneers have not played in 10 days, with their previous matches dating back to the Wildcat Classic on Sept. 27 and 28... UC went 2-2 on the weekend, as it downed Cazenovia College and Wells College by scores of 3-1 and 3-2, respectively, and lost to SUNY Canton 3-1, and Alfred State 3-0. 

Newcomers Building a New Gym, Block by Block: The Pioneers currently lead the Empire 8 conference in blocks, with 173 total… Freshman Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) has been stellar in her rookie season, picking up a conference-best 73 blocks thus far... She also leads the team in kills with 152... Junior newcomer Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) is second on the team in the block category with 49, good for sixth in the conference.

Can You Dig It?: Junior Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) currently ranks sixth in the Empire 8 in digs (250)… She also had six kills and 14 service aces.

Allen Is an Ace: Sophomore Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) leads the conference with .58 service aces per set… Her 37 total aces rank sixth in the E8… She also leads the team with 297 assists.

Scouting Cobleskill: The Fighting Tigers are coming off a 2-2 weekend of NEAC play at Morrisville State last weekend… Cobleskill dropped a five set match to Cazenovia and lost to Keuka 3-0 before bouncing back with wins over Wells College (3-1) and Morrisville State (3-2)… Cobleskill is led by Amber Baker and Kady Porterfield… Baker has a team-high 142 kills and 157 digs, while Porterfield also has 142 kills and leads the squad with 39 blocks. 

The Season Series: This will be the second of two meetings between Utica and Cobleskill… In their first match, on Sept. 9, Utica pulled out a 3-2 win in five sets… Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) led the way for UC with 14 kills, while Brionna Enny had 22 digs… Cassi Brancato (Gloversville, NY/Mayfield) chipped in with 11 digs of her own, and Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) had 34 assists.

Scouting SUNYIT: The Wildcats are an impressive 23-1 on the season… They recently set a new program record for wins in a season and are riding a 23-match win streak… The lone loss came by way of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of SUNY Canton in their first match of the season… SUNYIT is led by senior Kaitlyn Harrington who has a team-best 259 kills and 207 digs… UC has lost its three previous meetings against the Wildcats this year, each by a score of 3-0.

Next Time Out: UC will travel to Ithaca, NY this weekend for the Ithaca College Invitational… On Friday, Utica will take on the host Bombers at 3:30 p.m. followed by a tilt against Messiah College at 7:30 p.m… On Saturday the Pioneers face Medialle College at 12:15 p.m. followed by Wells College at 2:30 p.m.


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