UTICA, NY - The Utica College volleyball team opens up its 2020-21 season on Wednesday, March 17th with an E8 dual match against Russell Sage College. The starting lineups will take to Miga Court at 7 p.m. at Utica's Harold T. Clark Athletic Center.

Follow Along: Live video and stats for the match will be made available at portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.

A Stroll Through The Schedule: The Pioneers are slated to play a conference-only six match schedule this season, with two home dates and four road dates. The Pioneers are home again against Nazareth on Saturday, April 10th. The squad will play road matches at Alfred, Houghton, Elmira, and Fisher.

On The Staff: This season marks the eighth at Utica for head coach Aris Bird. The former Dolgeville and Niagara University star took the reins in 2013 after coaching at Dolgeville and Granville High Schools, and at Herkimer College. Returning to assist on the staff is her mother, legendary Dolgeville head coach Barb Allen, who is the second-winningest high school coach in New York State history at over 600 victories. New to the staff this year is assistant coach Renn Havill. Havill compiled a tremendous career at Northern Virginia Community College and Northern Vermont University-Johnson.

Return of the Offense: When it comes to attacking, the Pioneers don't have to look far to find returning sources of offense as their top four players in the kills category all return. Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout), Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names), Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga), and Rosemarie Fesko (Goshen, NY/Goshen Central) top the list in that area. Romaguera returns for her senior season having compiled 157 kills, and an average of 2.18 points per set. Cepiel totaled 104 kills last season, while Martin and Fesko recorded 98 and 96, respectively.

Multi-Faceted Threats: Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout) is one of the most versatile athletes you'll find at Utica College these days. The senior is one of Utica's best two-way players on the floor, as she not only led the team in kills last season, but also had a team-best 244 digs over the course of 2019. She also led the squad with 26 service aces. Off the court, you'll find her using her vertical leap in other ways as a pole vaulter with the UC Track and Field program. She is the reigning Empire 8 indoor champion. Many of Utica's top returning players also compete in Track and Field while showcasing their talents in Volleyball. Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) had 169 digs and 15 blocks defensively for Utica last season, and is expected to compete this spring in the middle distance events on the track. Rosemarie Fesko (Goshen, NY/Goshen Central) was second on last year's team with 33 blocks and will compete as a thrower later this spring. Freshman Julyanna Sauschuk will play middle hitter for the Pioneers before competing in the throws this spring.

From The Awards Archives: Junior setter Rosemarie Fesko (Goshen, NY/Goshen Central) was Utica's lone honoree on the 2019 Empire 8 All-Conference Teams. Fesko was selected to the conference's Sportswoman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. One member of each team is selected to the Sportswoman of the Year team for displaying these traits as well as having the characteristics that make a good sportswoman. Fesko was one of five Pioneers to play in all 27 matches last season, and she had a team-high 23 starts.

Opportunity Knocks: The Pioneers have seven freshmen on this year's roster who will have the opportunity to step in and contribute right away. That group includes middle hitter Brianna Woods (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), setter Jillian Hare (Adams Center, NY/South Jefferson), defensive specialist Alyssa Morley (Oswego, NY/Oswego), middle hitter Julyanna Sauschuk, outside hitter Keely Lagon (Scotia, NY/McKeel Christian Academy), and setters Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) and Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman).

Seniority Rules: The Pioneers have just two seniors this season in Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout) and Briana Toledo (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley). That tandem will be counted on to light the way for a very young Utica team this season.

Back In The New York Groove: All but one of Utica's players on the 2020-21 roster come from the State of New York. Four players are from NYSPHSAA Section 3 high schools. The lone player on the roster not from New York is Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman), a Psychobiology major all the way from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Keying The Wins: Utica had a pair of wins against Cazenovia last season. In a five-set win over the Wildcats on September 9th, 2019, the Pioneers rallied out of an 0-2 hole by winning the final three sets 28-26, 25-19, 15-8. Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga) had thirteen kills in that match, while Romaguera had 11 kills, four service aces, two blocks, an assist, and fifteen digs. The Pioneers later won in straight sets on September 21st. Fesko had four blocks in the 25-18, 25-19, 25-11 win.

The Last Time Against Sage: The Pioneers took the Gators to five sets, but lost a 3-2 decision on October 2nd, 2019. Utica snagged the early lead out of Sage's hands by winning the second and third sets by scores of 28-26, and 25-20. Sage erased Utica's 2-1 lead by winning the final two sets to take the match. Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga) had fifteen kills, and Briana Toledo (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley) had 27 digs.

What's Next: The Pioneers return to the hardwood against Alfred University on Sunday, March 21st at 3 p.m.