UTICA, NY - The Utica College volleyball team won its second game in a row and its ninth in a row overall against Cazenovia in a 3-0 straight set sweep Friday night. 
 
Utica took the first set 25-16, set two 25-22 and the third set 25-10. While taking full control in the first and third sets, the Pioneers struggled with the Wildcats in the second set. Cazenovia opened with a 2-0 lead and stayed out in front by as many as five points when they held a 16-11 lead. However, the Pioneers attack went on a 7-2 run to even the set at 18. The teams traded points until the score was even at 22. An Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) kill, Lainey Hayden (Owensboro, KY/Owensboro) block and Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga) kill in consecutive order gave UC the 25-22 set two win. 
 
In all, Utica led Cazenovia 38-21 in kills, 64-52 in digs, 35-17 in assists, 5-4 in blocks, 8-2 in aces while outhitting the Wildcats .248 percent to .018 percent. 
 
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) led the Pioneers with a season-high 16 kills, followed by Julyanna Sauschuck (Huguenot, NY/Port Jervis) with six and Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga) with five. Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) tallied 18 assists on the night and Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) wound up with 16. Krystell Pappas (Owensboro, KY/Owensboro) led the team with 16 digs while Cepiel added 15 to her stat line. 
 
UC (5-10, 1-1 Empire 8) returns to action on October 6 at 7 p.m. when the team travels to Albany to take on Sage.