Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Rochester, NY (9/20/14)- The Utica College volleyball team split its Empire 8 Conference opening weekend at Nazareth College Saturday.  The Pioneers topped Alfred University 3-0 before falling to the host Golden Flyers, 3-0.
 
Freshman Alaina Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) led the Pioneers in the opening game with nine kill, while sophomore Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) had seven kills and freshman Samantha Hoerning (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East) chipped in with six kills of her own.  Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit), Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville), Ashley Jones (Charlton, NY/Galway), Abigail Mosenthin (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville), Michaline Rubas (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville), and Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) also added kills in the win.  Allen had 25 assists on the day, while Enny and Alexis Lyon (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) combined for 36 digs and Homer-Gunther picked up a team-high four blocks. 
 
In the second game, Blaszak led the squad with four kills, while Wickwire had a team-best eight digs, and Homer-Gunther added two blocks. 
 
The Pioneers (6-6) are off to their best start since 2009.  Utica will return to action Tuesday as it travels to Hartwick College.  The Empire 8 Conference match up is scheduled for 7 p.m.


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