Utica, NY – The Utica College women's volleyball team is set to host the Utica College Tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium. Final scores and match box scores will be posted to the tournament webpage as soon as possible following each contest.  For a full tournament schedule and team information please visit the tournament webpage at: http://ucpioneers.com/sports/2016/9/29/WVB_1015124649.aspx

DIG PINK WEEKEND: This weekend will mark the Pioneers' annual "Dig Pink" match. … Utica will raise awareness and join the fight against breast cancer by donning pink uniforms, holding a bake sale, raffles, and accepting donations all weekend long… All proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Meet the Participants
UTICA COLLEGE: The Utica College Pioneers are 5-13 overall and 0-3 in the Empire 8…  UC has had success at home so far this year is it is 2-0 at the friendly confines of Clark Gymnasium, with a pair of 3-0 wins over SUNY Delhi and Southern Vermont… Utica is led by senior Brandi Blaszak (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) who has totaled 147 kills this season… Sophomore Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) leads the team and ranks second in the E8 with 49 blocks this season, while classmate Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) has a team-high 26 aces and 228 assists... Leah Octave (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall) leads the defense with a career-high 232 digs.

LASELL COLLEGE: The Lasell Lasers have a 4-8 overall record and they are 1-1 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference…  In 12 matches, the team has averaged 9.63 kills per set, 9.04 assists per set, and 1.02 blocks per set...  Lasell also has a .084 hitting percentage...  Lasers sophomore Olivia Addington leads the team with 126 kills…  She has also averaged 2.86 kills per set, .14 assists per set, and .23 blocks per set...   The Lasers are looking to bounce back from their 3-2 loss against St. Joseph last Tuesday.

PLATTSBURGH STATE: The Plattsburgh Cardinals sit 8-7 overall and they are 1-2 in the SUNYAC Conference...  The team racked up 613 kills in 15 matches...  The Cardinals also averaged 10.9 kills per set, 10.2 assists per set, and .8 blocks per set... Sophomore Sam Colombo is one key player to look out for during the tournament.  She currently has 203 kills this season and averaged 3.63 kills per set and .29 assists per set…  Freshman Hunter Grotjohn is another Cardinal to look out for as she has 151 kills this season and is averaging 2.80 kills per set.

STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: The Stevens Ducks are off to a great start so far...  They have a 15-1 overall record, are 3-0 in the Empire 8 Conference, and are currently riding a 12-game winning streak…  The Ducks have 637 kills in 16 matchups, and they are averaging 12.5 kills per set, 11.7 assists per set, and 1.8 blocks per set…   Ducks' senior Mary Tobin is the key ingredient to the team's success as she has 140 kills this season...  She has also averaged 3.04 kills per set and .24 assists per set...  Casey King ranks second with 125 kills, and a 2.66 kills-per-set average.

SUNY POTSDAM: The Potsdam Bears are 10-4 overall, but they have yet to win a game in the SUNYAC Conference…  The team lost three straight conference matchups last weekend… Although the Bears rebounded from their conference struggles and got a 3-2 win against St. Lawrence last Wednesday...  The team has 495 kills so far this season, and they have averaged of 9.9 kills per set, 9.3 assists per set, and 1.3 blocks per set...  Freshman Gabrielle Scott leads the team in kills with 116…  She has also averaged 2.37 kills per set and .18 assists per set...  Rachel Topf is ranked second on the squad with 109 kills and a 2.32 kills per set average.

UNION COLLEGE: Union College is 10-7 overall and is 1-3 in the Liberty League Conference…  Midway through the season, the team has collected 695 kills and averaged 11.4 kills per set, 10.7 assists per set, and .9 blocks per set...  Senior Ally VanDoren leads the team with 205 kills and she has also averaged 3.36 kills per set and .18 assists per set…  Senior Alyssa Bonesteel is also having a great season as she has collected 142 kills and averaged 2.33 kills per set.

FARMINGDALE STATE: The Farmingdale State Rams are 5-4 overall and 3-1 in the Skyline Conference…  The team has 331 kills right now, and they averaged 10.34 kills per set…  The Rams also averaged 9.13 assists per set, 1.5 blocks per set, and have a .203 hitting percentage…  Senior Christina Hickey leads the team in kills with 67, and she averaged 2.09 kills per set, .09 assists per set, and .28 blocks per set...  Freshman Julia Hande has also played a big role this season as she has recorded 66 kills and averaged 2.36 kills per set and 3.07 assists per set...  The Rams have won four out of their last five games, and will kick off the volleyball tournament against the Pioneers this Friday.

WELLS COLLEGE: Wells College currently holds a 9-5 overall record and a 5-1 mark in NEAC play … The Express have won eight of their last ten matches … Jackie Allen leads the team with an average of 2.60 kills per set and she has a .191 hitting percentage through 14 matches … Anuhea Leite-Ah Yo has a team-best 116 total kills this season to go along with a team-high 177 digs … Eliza Schwab leads the team with 402 assists … Amanda Springer is averaging a team-best .57 blocks per set … Olivia Brazier has 107 kills this season to go along with 141 digs.