Utica, NY - The Utica College volleyball team continues its season-opening road trip on Wednesday as it travels to SUNY Delhi to take on the Broncos.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers started their season with the Case Western Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio last weekend. Utica faced some stiff competition as two of its opponents qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament last season.  UC fell to Bethany College, Carnegie Mellon University, and Denison University by 3-0 scores.
 
Freshman Dominance: At the culmination of the first weekend of play, UC freshmen lead the pack in kills, assists, blocks and digs. Freshman Cameron Boehlert (Utica, NY/Whitesboro ) totaled nine kills over the weekend, which left her tied for the most on the team with junior Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout). The offensive attack was also led by freshman Loryn Wilcox (Canastota, NY/Canastota), who posted a team-best 20 assists. The defense showcased new freshmen leaders, including Taylor Crowley (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township), who notched a team-high 20 digs over the three matches. Freshman Elanor Cepiel was also a key contributor defensively, leading the way in blocks with five.
 
Even History: The Pioneers split their matchup against the Broncos last season, with the road team winning both games. The first match between these two teams came on Sept. 10, where the Broncos won 3-2 in a comeback victory after being down 2-0 early on in the match. While the first match was a barn burner, the second was a one-sided affair, as the Pioneers topped the Broncos in a convincing 3-0 win on Oct. 15.
 
Scouting Delhi: This year's Broncos squad showcases a very young team, roserting only one senior in Erica Prindle. Despite having minimal senior leadership, Delhi has started the season off on a high note, winning its first two matches by a 3-0 decision. The first win came over King's College (NY), where junior Haylee Lefebvre led the way on offense with 12 kills. Junior Shelby Nolan was the leader defensively, totaling 12 digs in the match.
 
While King's College made things interesting at times throughout the match, the same did not hold true in the second match of the season against Yeshiva. Delhi won the first set 25-1, and the closest margin of victory over the next two sets was a 25-16 decision in the third.
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers head to the University of Rochester this weekend for a two-day tournament on  Friday evening. They are slated to play Capital University on Friday at 6 p.m. and SUNY Cortland and Buffalo State on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.