UTICA, NY- The Utica College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to visiting St. John Fisher College in Empire 8 Conference action Wednesday evening.
 
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, but Utica battled back and the Pioneers trailed just 17-15, before Fisher scored eight of the next nine points to pull away and take the first set (25-16). 
 
UC trailed 14-8 midway through the second set, but the Pioneers rattled off five straight points to make things interesting.  Despite UC pulling ahead 23-22, this time it was Fisher who came from behind and took the set 26-24.
 
The third set was much of the same, with Utica putting up a valiant effort, but the Cardinals proving too much as they took set three 25-19 and picked up their 11^th win of the season.
 
Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout) led the way for Utica as she totaled a season-high 11 kills, followed by Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) with six kills, and Miranda Stockbridge (Waterville, NY/Waterville) with four.  Marissa Faroni (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) aided the offense with a team-high 12 assists, while Casey Sims (Schenectady, NY/Niskayuna) chipped in with nine helpers on the evening. 
 
Defensively, Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) had a team-best 19 digs, followed by Sims (13), and Faroni (six).  Herringshaw led the squad with five blocks on the evening.
 
The Pioneers look to rebound this weekend as they travel to Stevens on Saturday for an E8 pod.  UC will take on Houghton College at 1:30 p.m. and Stevens Institute of Technology at 4 p.m.