Utica, NY - The Utica College volleyball team is slated to start its season Friday on the road at the Case Western Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pioneers are set to face Bethany College at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, before wrapping up the weekend against Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Denison University directly after at 12:30 p.m.
 
2018 Recap: The Pioneers are coming off a 2018 season where they finished with a 5-22 overall record. Senior Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) led the way, totaling a team-best 297 kills and 69 blocks en route to being named an Empire 8 honorable mention and to the Sportswoman of the Year team as well.
 
Key Returners: The 2019 Pioneers return all but three players from last season, including two who finished the year in the top four of kills. Junior Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout) will lead the offensive attack this year, as she finished her sophomore campaign with 131 kills while adding 206 digs, both of which were good for second-most on the squad. Romaguera also is the top returner in aces from last year, as she finished with 12. Sophomore Rosemarie Fesko (Goshen, NY/Central) finished last season with 59 points, which was fifth-most on the team.
 
Fresh Faces: Utica welcomes eight newcomers to this year's roster -- Caitlyn Curcurito (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa), Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names), Cameron Boehlert (Utica, NY/Whitesboro ), Loryn Wilcox (Canastota, NY/Canastota), McKenna LaPorte (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse ), Brenna Stanton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango), Alicja Swiechowska (Carmel, NY/Carmel) and Taylor Crowley (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township).
 
2019 Seniors: Three seniors graduated from the 2018 roster, and this year's team will roster three seniors as well -- Monique Fletcher (Waterford, CT/Norwich Free Academy), Holly Kalil (Inlet, NY/Town of Webb) and Lindey Hannel. Fletcher is the active leader with 231 sets played.   Hannel is one of two captains selected to lead the squad this year, and Kalil has played in 12 matches for the Pioneers.
 
Road Trip: UC starts the 2019 season with its furthest trip away from the Mohawk Valley this season, traveling to Cleveland, OH for the Case Western Tournament. The Pioneers season-opening match is against Bethany College, which finished the 2018 season with a 22-10 overall record. Bethany returns all but four players from last season, and will be a favorite to take home the Presidents' Athletic Conference title this season.
 
Utica will face Carnegie Mellon University the following day. The Tartans had a very successful 2018 season, as they finished with a 24-11 overall record. They did not fare well in their conference tournament - losing in the third place match - but did make it all the way to the regional championship of the NCAA Division III Tournament before losing to Ithaca College.
 
The Pioneers round out their weekend in a match against Denison University. Dennison finished 2018 with an 11-15 overall record, losing to the College of Wooster in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.