UTICA. NY – The Utica College volleyball team returns home this weekend, as Utica gets set to host the Empire 8 Crossover Tournament. UC will play in two matches on Saturday against Ithaca College (11 a.m.) and Houghton College (4 p.m.). Houghton and Ithaca will square off at 1:30 p.m.

Pioneers All-Access: The Utica College athletics communications department will provide live video and stats for all three games on the hardwood at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium … Check out the Pioneers All-Access page for links to live video and stats: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.

Last Time Out: Utica lost on the road Tuesday, 3-1, against the SUNY Poly Wildcats…UC won the first set, but was unable to keep the momentum going as it dropped three straight sets to the Wildcats.

Adding Assists: Senior Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) continues to add to her career school-record setting assist total, adding 32 assists on Tuesday…Allen's career total is now at 1,591 assists…She is ranked fifth in the conference for assists (349) and in assists per set (7.20).

Can you Dig it?: Senior Alexis Lyon (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) leads the team in digs with 260 on the season…Lyon is first in the conference in digs per set at 5.35…Lyon's is also third on the team in service aces with eight.

Picking up the Points: Senior Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) leads the conference with a .433 hitting percentage…She leads the team in total blocks with 29, and is second on the team in kills (98) and service aces (12)…Freshman Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) leads the team in kills (127) and in service aces (20)…She is currently sixth in hitting percentage (.239) in the conference.

Scouting Ithaca: Ithaca College is 13-1 overall with a 2-0 Empire 8 Conference record…Ithaca is coming off of a 3-0 win over SUNY Potsdam… Over the last five years the Pioneers are 0-6 against the Bombers…The Bombers are led by sophomores Joelle Goldstein and Kayla Gromen.

Scouting Houghton: Houghton is 8-6 overall and 1-0 in Empire 8 play…Houghton is coming off of a 3-2 victory over Empire 8 rival Nazareth College…The Pioneers are 0-5 against Houghton over the last five years… Houghton is led by senior Hattie Burgher and sophomore Anna Coryell.

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers will finish up their three game home stand against Empire 8 opponent Hartwick College on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.