UTICA, NY- The Utica College volleyball team opens up its 2017 campaign this weekend as it travels to SUNY Cortland for the annual Red Dragon Classic.  The Pioneers will take on Lebanon Valley (3 p.m.) and Fredonia (7 p.m.) on Friday, before wrapping up the weekend against Stockton University (1:30 p.m.) and the host team, SUNY Cortland (4 p.m.) on Saturday.
 
TOP RETURNERS: The Pioneers return 10 players from last year's squad including juniors Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) and Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville)… The duo finished second and third, on the team in kills last season with 198 and 181, respectively… Herringshaw also led the squad with 81 blocks and she ranked third in the conference with .69 blocks per set… Voss had a team-best 396 assists and 49 service aces. 
 
SENIOR LEADERSHIP: The Pioneers return seniors Abigail Mosenthin (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) and Taneill Davis (Coram, NY/Longwood)… Mosenthin was fourth on the team last season with 75 kills and she also added 146 digs… Davis totaled 13 kills, 10 digs, and six assists in 17 matches last season.
 
WELCOME BACK: Also back for the orange and blue are juniors Allison Della Penna (Batavia, NY/Batavia) and Marissa Faroni (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads), as well as sophomores Brooke Macisco (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley), Monique Fletcher (Waterford, CT/Norwich Free Academy), Holly Kalil (Inlet, NY/Town of Webb), and Lindsey Hannel (Victor, NY/Victor). 
 
FRESH FACES: UC has nine new faces on the team this year, including junior Miranda Stockbridge (Waterville, NY/Waterville), sophomore Jessica Macheda (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia), and freshmen Anna Salerno (Clinton, NY/Clinton), Morgan Farmer (Saranac Lake, NY/Saranac Lake), Mercedes Rumrill (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville), Kristen Clapp (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix), Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout), Briana Toledo (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley), and Elise Davis (Frankfort, NY/Herkimer).   
 
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE: The 2017 schedule features 11 home games, three of which are against Empire 8 Conference opponents… UC will kick off its home slate on Thursday Sept. 7 as it hosts SUNY Cobleskill… The Pioneers are also promoting breast cancer awareness during their Empire 8 pod at home on Oct. 7 against St. John Fisher and Elmira… Utica will host Senior Night on Wednesday, Oct. 25 as it takes on Cobleskill.
 
SCOUTING LEBANON VALLEY: The Dutchmen were selected to finish third in the MAC Commonwealth Conference preseason coaches poll after wrapping up last season with a 22-11 overall record and a 6-2 mark in league play… Returning for Lebanon Valley is junior Jess Attieh, who led the team with 401 kills last season. 
 
SCOUTING FREDONIA: The Blue Devils finished with a 19-13 overall record and a 6-3 mark in the SUNYAC last season… Fredonia made it into the conference tournament before falling to Geneseo in the quarterfinals… Senior Kristen Stanek is back after leading the team with 346 kills last season. 
 
SCOUTING STOCKTON: The Ospreys finished last season 21-14 overall and 7-1 in the NJAC… Stockton was upset in the first round of the conference tournament, falling to Montclair State, 3-2…  Returning for the Ospreys is senior Stephanie Kovacs, who totaled 295 kills and 39 blocks last season.
 
SCOUTING CORTLAND: The Red Dragons went 20-14 one year ago with a 3-6 record in the SUNYAC… Courtney Silberer led the squad with 306 kills and she was second on the squad with 79 blocks last season. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers return to action on Thursday, Sept. 7 as they host SUNY Cobleskill for the 2017 home opener… Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.