UTICA, NY- The Utica College volleyball team will open up its 2018 campaign this weekend as it travels to SUNY Plattsburgh for the Cardinal Invitational. The Pioneers will take on Plymouth State on Friday (6 p.m.) before facing the host team, SUNY Plattsburgh (11 a.m.) and SUNY Canton (3 p.m.) on Saturday.
KEY RETURNERS: Utica welcomes back 11 players from last year's squad, including seniors
Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) and
Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville), who finished first and second on the team in kills with 239 and 177, respectively… Herringshaw also had a team-high 93 blocks, while Voss led the squad with 51 service aces and 323 digs… Classmate
Marissa Faroni (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) led UC with 397 assists last season.
WELCOMES BACK: Also back for the Orange and Blue are senior
Miranda Stockbridge (Waterville, NY/Waterville), juniors
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), and sophomores
Morgan Farmer (Saranac Lake, NY/Saranac Lake),
Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout), and
Briana Toledo (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley).
FRESH FACES: UC has seven new faces on the squad this year including freshmen
Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga),
Jenna Prewasnicak (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili),
Casey Sims (Schenectady, NY/Niskayuna),
Rosemarie Fesko (Goshen, NY/Central), and
Briana Guentner (Oswego, NY/Oswego), as well as sophomore
Mackenzie Good (Stafford, NY/Pavilion Central)… Sophomore
Megan Rice (Leverett, MA/Amherst Regional) will also join the team this year after sitting out last season due to injury.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE: The 2018 schedule features 5 home games, three of which are against Empire 8 Conference opponents… UC will kick off its home slate on Monday, Sept. 10 as it hosts SUNY Delhi… The Pioneers are also promoting breast cancer awareness during their Empire 8 pod at home on Oct. 20 against Hartwick and Alfred… The game against Alfred will also serve as Utica's senior night.
ADIRONDACK CHAIR RAFFLE: All season long, the Pioneers are selling raffle tickets for an Adirondack Chair, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Brest Cancer Foundation as well as the UC volleyball program… Tickets are $5 each, or 6 tickets for $20 and can be purchased from head coach
Aris Bird (ambird@utica.edu).
SCOUTING PLYMOUTH STATE: The Panthers finished last season with a 19-11 overall record and made it to the Little East Tournament semifinals before being knocked out by top-seeded UMass Boston, 3-1… Plymouth is led by senior Ari Linden, who led the squad with 66 blocks and she finished second on the team with 242 kills last season.
SCOUTING PLATTSBURGH: The Cardinals finished last year with a 6-21 record… Offensively, Plattsburgh will rely on sophomore Michelle Simmons, who finished second on the squad with 206 kills as a freshman.
SCOUTING CANTON: The Roos went 12-21 in 2017 en route to an ACAA title after defeating Mills College (CA) in the semifinals and Alfred State in the Championship, both by 3-0 scores… Canton is led by juniors Marissa Ixtlahuac and Melissa McMaster, who finished last season ranked second and third on the team with 218 and 207 kills, respectively.
LOOKING AHEAD: Next up, the Pioneers will travel to the University of Rochester Tournament next weekend… UC will play three games, starting with U of R on Friday at 7 p.m… Utica will then take on Wells College (11 a.m.) and Medaille College (1 p.m.) on Saturday.
