UTICA, NY- Visiting Hartwick College rallied from a 1-0 deficit and won the next three sets to earn a 3-1 victory over the Utica College volleyball team in Empire 8 Conference action Tuesday evening. 
 
Utica tried to rally in the fourth set as it fought back to a 24-20 hole, however it was too little, too late as the Hawks picked up their first conference victory of the season.  UC drops to 2-15 (0-3 Empire 8) on the season, while Hartwick improves to 5-13 (1-2 Empire 8).
 
Junior Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) led the Pioneers with a season-high 14 kills, while senior Alexis Lyon (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) compiled 31 digs, just two shy of her career-best.  Blaszak also added a team-best four blocks.  Sophomore Samantha Hoerning (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East) and senior Laura Homer-Gunther (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) combined for 17 kills on the attack and senior Lora Allen (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) dished out 37 assists.  Freshman Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) helped out on the defensive side as she gathered 18 digs, one off her career mark, and she also added six kills on the evening. 
 
The Pioneers return to action with a three-game set this weekend at Stevens Institute of Technology.  The action kicks off against the Stevens Ducks at 7 p.m. on Friday.