UTICA, NY - The Utica College volleyball team was defeated in three sets by the Elmira College Soaring Eagles on Friday night. 
 
Elmira took set one 25-20, set two 25-19 and the third set 25-23. Down 19-11 in the first set, Utica came back to make it 22-19 however, Elmira went on to take three of the next four points to win the set. The Soaring Eagles jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead in the second set however, the resilience of UC never took them out of the set as the team stormed back even the set at 13 and eventually took a 15-14 lead. With UC ahead 18-16, Elmira finished the set on a 9-1 run to take a 2-0 lead into the third set. 
 
Down 12-5, the Pioneers once again went on a run to find themselves down 13-12 and later, force an 18-18 tie. Although Elmira answered back by taking the next four points, UC went on to take five of the next six to even the set at 23. However, a pair of kills by the Soaring Eagles ended Utica's comeback attempt as Elmira finished off the straight set sweep. 
 
 The Pioneers failed to record double digit kills in any of the three sets, finishing with seven in the first, eight in the second and seven in set three. Utica also committed 20 errors in 101 attempts while finishing with a .020 hitting percentage to the Soaring Eagles' .214 percent. 
 
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) led the Pioneers with eight kills followed by Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga) with six and Brianna Woods (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) with three. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) and Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) shared a team high eight assists while Lainey Hayden (Owensboro, KY/Owensboro), Julyanna Sauschuck (Huguenot, NY/Port Jervis) and Woods all had two blocks. Krystell Pappas (Owensboro, KY/Owensboro) finished with 15 digs to lead Utica. 
 
UC (5-12, 1-3 Empire 8) returns to play tomorrow when the team hosts Alfred University at 3 p.m.