UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's tennis team will have three away matches this week, two of which being non-conference. The Pioneers begin the week on September 29 at 4 p.m. against Oswego St. followed by a date with Empire 8 opponent Alfred University on October 1 at 4 p.m. UC's week concludes in Buffalo on Sunday, October 3 at 2 p.m. when the team travels to Medaille. 
 
Last Time Out: UC secured its first Empire 8 win of the season after taking down Sage on Saturday, 5-4. Morgan Willis (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) and Bianca Bockhaus (Shenorock, NY/Somers) earned an 8-6 win at second doubles while Victoria Vo (Utica, NY/Proctor) and Haley Dekin (Castorland, NY/Lowville Academy) cruised to an 8-0 win at third doubles. Willis, Vo and Dekin were responsible for each of the three singles wins for the team. Willis took second singles 6-1, 6-1, Vo won at fifth singles 6-1, 6-0, and Dekin claimed sixth singles 6-0, 6-1. 
 
On the Back Nine: The Pioneers (3-4, 1-3 Empire 8) are looking at three of its final four games of the regular season this week. Currently 1-3 in conference play, UC will have a chance to finish the year .500 in the Empire 8 with matches against Alfred (2-6, 1-2 E8) and Hartwick (4-2, 2-1 E8) still to come. Alfred currently sits .5 games ahead of UC, meaning Utica would jump the Saxons in the standings with a win and would put the team in fifth place, one position behind playoff qualification. Each of the other six teams in the conference have three matches remaining against E8 opponents while Utica is the only team that has played four conferences matches to this point. With Nazareth all but locked in to the playoffs and Sage falling behind with an 0-3 record in conference play, UC will be keeping a close eye on the reaming four teams over the next week. 
 
Bouncing Back: After winning her first four singles matches, Haley Dekin (Castorland, NY/Lowville Academy) found herself in a slump with singles and doubles losses at Nazareth and Oneonta. However, the sophomore quickly climbed out of her two-match skid with her impressive win at singles six and doubles three. Her partner, Victoria Vo (Utica, NY/Proctor), also climbed out of her two-match slump this past weekend with her wins at singles and doubles. 
 
Lake Day: Oswego St. is currently 2-6 overall and 1-3 in SUNYAC play. The Lakers are fresh off of a 6-3 win over Sage on September 19 which also gave the team its first home victory this season (1-4). 
 
Conference Implications: The Alfred University Saxons enter the week 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the Empire 8. They are led by Lauren Boshart who is 4-4 in singles play while the combination of Alex Rossen and Isabelle Beniot lead the team with a 3-2 doubles record together. With Alfred sitting at 1-2 
 
Wild Horses: The Medaille Mavericks come into the week 3-3 overall, 3-1 in AMCC play and have won its last two matches. Emily Jablonski leads the team with a 4-2 singles record while the duo of Hallie Dworzanski and Jasmine Mott are 4-1 in doubles play. 

Up Next: UC will have its final match of the regular season at 1 p.m. on October 9 when Hartwick College comes into town.