ELMIRA, NY- The Utica College volleyball team lost to SUNY Geneseo and Cortland State on the opening day of the Elmira College Invitational Friday afternoon.  The Pioneers are now 2-4 in their last six games.

Geneseo 3, Utica 0 – Game One
Utica jumped out to a good start as it narrowly missed taking the first set, falling by a score of 25-23.  The Knights however were able to carry the momentum in sets two and three, winning by scores of 25-12 and 25-19, respectively. 
 
Junior Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) and freshman Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) led the Pioneer attack with seven kills each, while senior Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) had a team-high 25 assists and 12 digs.  Allen is now within 100 assists of collecting 2,000 in her career.  Blaszak, meanwhile, added a team-best two service aces and two blocks.
 
Allen and classmate Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) combined for nine kills, while Samantha Hoerning (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East), Abigail Mosenthin (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville), Brianna Ettori (Hampton, NY/Granville), and Marissa Faroni (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) also contributed for the offense. 

Cortland 3, Utica 0 – Game Two
The Red Dragons downed the Pioneers in straight sets by the scores of 25-13, 25-19 and 25-11 in the night cap for Utica. UC's Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) and Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) each led the way with six kills.  Herringshaw also chipped in with two blocks and one assist.

Voss led the Pioneers with 16 digs and she added one ace. Alexis Lyon (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) posted 10 digs, while Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) added 19 assists. 

Nicole Silberer and Courtney Silberer led Cortland with 12 kills each.

Utica (4-22) returns to the hardwood at Elmira on Saturday when the Pioneers take on The City College of New York (10 a.m.) and Hunter College (2 p.m.).