Utica, NY (9/18/13)- The Utica College volleyball team looks to get back on track Wednesday as it hosts Oswego State.  The non-conference match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers are coming off a 1-3 weekend at the Oswego Invitational… Utica downed Wells College 3-0 in the opening game, before losing the next three to St. Lawrence, SUNYIT, and Marywood.

Blazing Blaszak: Freshman Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) has been on fire recently… After being named Empire 8 Rookie of the Week last week, she came back with another strong showing at the Oswego Invite… In four games, she led the team with 36 kills and eight blocks… On the season, she has a team-best 79 kills, 28 blocks, and 111.5 points to go along with seven service aces and 12 digs… She also has averaged .85 blocks per set, which ranks fourth in the conference.

Helping Out: Sophomore Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) is second on the squad in kills (61) and blocks (26)… Junior Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) leads the team with 106 digs and sophomore Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) has a team-high 151 assists and 26 service aces… Junior Madison Bayer (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip) is second in aces (12) and digs (49), and third in kills (59). 

Scouting Oswego: The Lakers are 6-6 overall and coming off a 2-2 weekend as the tournament hosts… They fell to SUNYIT 3-0 and St. Lawrence 3-2, while defeating Marywood 3-2 and Wells 3-0… They are led by Stephanie Bailey and Lauren Edwards… Bailey has a team-best 96 kills and 27 blocks, while Edwards leads the squad with 280 assists and 20 service aces… Oswego opens SUNYAC play next weekend at Cortland. 

Against the Lakers: UC is 2-13 against Oswego dating back to 2008… The last time the Pioneers defeated the Lakers was Sept. 23, 2009 when UC captured a 3-2 victory… Last year, Utica dropped both meetings against Oswego by scores of 3-1. 

Looking Ahead:  The Pioneers open up Empire 8 Conference play this weekend as they travel to the Empire 8 crossover, hosted by Hartwick College… UC will take on the Hartwick Hawks Friday at 4 p.m. followed by a double header against Houghton College (10 a.m.) and Stevens Institute of Technology (12:30 p.m.) on Saturday.


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