UTICA, NY - For the first time since 2016, the Utica College volleyball team is off to a 1-0 start to the season. The 2021 edition of the Pioneers sported many new faces in their debut, while also honoring their eldest on senior night. Whatever the occasion, the Pioneers made it all count as they topped visiting Sage 3-1 in a four set match on Miga Court at the Clark Athletic Center.
The win improves Utica to 1-0, and 1-0 in the Empire 8 Conference. Sage falls to 0-1 overall and in conference.
Before the match, the Pioneers took the time to honor seniors
Meaghan Romaguera (Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout) and
Briana Toledo (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley) in a heartfelt ceremony. In their second-to-last home matches, Romaguera had a kill and three assists, while Toledo logged a kill, six assists, and two service aces to go with a team-best 28 digs.
As a team, the Pioneers had 51 kills and a thirteen percent attack percentage, and logged 11.8 assists per set. They posted eight blocks and ten service aces. They limited Sage to a 7.8 percent attack percentage defensively.
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) led all individual performers with 22 kills and 25 digs on the night. Rookies played a big part in the story of the match with a bonanza of impressive debuts for Utica.
Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) had 23 assists and three service aces.
Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) had three service aces.
Brianna Woods (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was second on the team with nine kills, and also had five blocks.
Julyanna Sauschuck (Huguenot, NY/Port Jervis) logged a pair of blocks.
Emma Parkington had twelve kills, and Celia Gagnon had nine kills and a match-high four service aces for the Gators.
The Pioneers overturned an early Sage run to win the first set 25-22. Utica made a run for it off a 9-9 tie to pull away and win set two, 25-20. The Gators pushed the Pioneers to extra points to win the third set 29-27, and UC finally secured match point with a dominant fourth set as they put the contest away with a 25-17 clincher.
The squad is back in action on Sunday at Alfred University. Match time is set for 3 p.m.
