ELMIRA, NY- The Utica College volleyball team picked up a split on the final day of the Elmira College Invitational on Saturday afternoon.  Utica topped the City College of New York 3-0, before falling in a five-set thriller to Hunter College. 
 
Utica 3, CCNY 0- Game One Final
The Pioneers cruised to a straight-set victory over the Beavers to open the day.  Utica did not allow more than 13 points against in any set as it picked up its fifth victory of the year. Freshman Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) totaled a career-high 13 kills and matched her season-best seven blocks to pace the Pioneers. 
 
Junior Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) and senior Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) combined for 13 kills, while Blaszak added four service aces.  Senior Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) had a game-high 34 assists, and classmate Alexis Lyon (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) had 18 digs.  Freshman Marissa Faroni (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) also chipped in on the defensive side as she totaled a career-high 12 digs. 
 
Utica 2, Hunter 3- Game Two Final
After taking the first set 25-23, UC fell to Hunter 30-28 in the second set, before responding to take set three, 25-18.  With their backs against the wall, the Hawks rallied to top Utica 25-12 to force a fifth and final set.  Hunter was able to hold on for the 15-11 victory in the fifth set and collect the victory with a 3-2 final score.
 
Three Pioneers recorded double-digits in kills, led by Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) (13), Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville), (11), and Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) (10).  Freshman Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) also chipped in with nine kills of her own.  Blaszak had a team-high six blocks, while Voss and Herringshaw each had three blocks. 
 
Senior Alexis Lyon (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) recorded a career-high 38 digs, while Voss had 19 digs of her own.  Classmate Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) totaled 41 assists on the game, marking the seventh match this season she has compiled at least 35 assists.  Allen now has 1,995 career assists, just five away from the 2,000-assist milestone.  She also set a new career-high of 753 assists in a single season. 
 
The Pioneers (5-22) return to action Monday as they travel to nearby Clinton, NY to take on Hamilton College.  Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.