North Adams, MA - The Utica College volleyball team traveled to Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon to compete in a tri-match against the Norwich Cadets and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Trailblazers.
UC (3) vs. Norwich (2)
The Pioneers opened the match by taking the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-22.
With the first set even at five, Utica created some breathing room, thanks to three kills by
Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga), as they jumped ahead 10-6. Later in the set,
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) and
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) capitalized on a pair of kills each to push UC ahead 17-9. The Pioneers wouldn't look back as they cruised to a set one win.
The second set was tightly contested early however, UC still found themselves in a 10-8 advantage. The Pioneers extended its lead to 15-8 thanks in part to two blocks by
Brianna Woods (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa). However, Norwich gained momentum as they went on an 8-1 run to knot the set at 16 each. After some more back-and forth action, UC found themselves trailing 22-21. Two errors on offense by Norwich, a kill by
Caitlyn Curcurito (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) and a service ace by
Krystell Pappas (Owensboro, KY/Owensboro) ended the set and gave UC a 2-0 lead.
The Cadets would not be silenced as they stormed back with a 25-9 set three win and a 25-11 win in set four. UC's stagnant offense would wake up in the fifth set however, jumping out to an early 6-4 lead. Now 12-10 in favor of Utica, Woods totaled two kills while Cepiel ended the game with her 12th, giving the Pioneers its first win of the season.
Brianna Woods (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) led the Pioneers with 14 kills, followed by
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) with 12 and
Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga) with 11. Woods also led UC with four blocks while
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) totaled three and
Brooke Taverne (Westmoreland, NY/Westmoreland) finished with two.
Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) topped the team with 27 assists, followed by
Hannah Johnson's (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) 16.
UC (2) vs. MCLA (3)
Utica and MCLA went back-and-forth through the first four sets, setting up the decisive fifth and final set.
The Trailblazers took the first set, 25-14 before UC responded back in the second. Down 18-12 late in the set, the Pioneers went on a 6 -1 run to close MCLA's lead to one. Now down 22-19, a pair of errors by MCLA and a service ace by Maggiore evened the game at 22. The teams threaded off the next four points total before an attack error gave Utica its first lead of the set, leading to a Trailblazers timeout. MCLA tied the set at 25 out of the break however, another attack error and a kill by Martin gave UC the set and evened the match at one.
The Pioneers nearly took a 2-1 set lead into the fourth however, a few misplays towards the end of the set came back to haunt Utica. Up 24-22, UC allowed MCLA to rattle off four straight points to take the set and the lead in the match, 2-1. Set four was all Pioneers as they never trailed once en route to taking it, 25-14 and setting up the team's second fifth set of the afternoon.
Down 7-2, MCLA responded with five straight points to tie the set at seven. The Trailblazers went on to outscore UC 8-3 to end the fifth set and win the match, 3-2.
Martin led the Pioneers with 15 kills in the match, followed by Woods with 12.
Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) added three blocks while Maggiore went over 20 assists again, this time with 24. Pappas once again led Utica with 19 total digs.
UC (1-5) is back in action on Monday, September 13 when they travel to nearby Clinton, NY to take on Hamilton College at 6:30 p.m.
