Utica, NY (9/5/14)- The Utica College volleyball team returns to action Saturday as it travels to Keuka Park, NY for a pair of matches against Alfred State College and Keuka College.  The first game against Alfred State is scheduled for 1 p.m. followed by the match against Keuka at 3 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers are coming off a 1-3 opening weekend at the Cortland Red Dragon Invitational… UC fell to Cortland, the University of Rochester, and Fredonia State before ending the weekend on a good note with a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind win over Medaille on Saturday.
 
ENNY HONORED: Senior Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) was named to the All-Tournament team after an impressive weekend… Enny posted a team-best 28 digs to go along with one kill and two assists… She finished last year with a team-high 403 digs and 19 service aces. 
 
WELCOME BACK BLASZAK: Sophomore Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro), who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, currently leads the squad with 30 kills and nine blocks… As a freshman, she led the E8 in blocks (110) and blocks per set (.95)...  She also had a team-high 280 kills to go along with 25 service aces and 67 digs.
 
FRESHMEN FITTING IN: Freshmen Alaina Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) and Samantha Hoerning (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East) have adjusted well to the college game… Wickwire is second on the team with 27 kills and has added two blocks, while Hoerning has 22 kills and five blocks.
 
SCOUTING ALFRED STATE: Alfred State, also nicknamed the Pioneers, is currently 3-2 overall after the USCAA Tip Off Tournament and Penn State Beaver… Alfred State is led by senior Kay Pfleghardt, who has 61 kills and 72 digs through five matches… Last year, Utica fell 3-0 (20-25, 17-25, 18-25) to Alfred State in the only meeting between the two teams. 

SCOUTING KEUKA: The Wolfpack is currently 0-2 after falling to Hilbert (3-1) and D'Youville (3-2) in the first week of action… Keuka is led by Devan Curtis, who has a team-high 21 kills to go along with 21 digs… The last meeting between Utica and Keuka was in 2012 when The Pioneers fell 3-1.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: Following Saturday's contests, the Pioneers will return to action Wednesday as they host local rival, SUNYIT for the 2014 home opener… Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.


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