UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team begins a busy road trip that includes two Empire 8 matches. On Friday at 7 p.m. the team will be at Houghton before traveling to Buffalo for the Medaille Tri-Match on Saturday. To begin the tri-match, Utica will face Medaille at 1 p.m. in an Empire 8 match before facing off with William Smith College at 3 p.m. in non-conference action.
Follow Along: Houghton will provide live video and/or stats through
https://bit.ly/3EBSEhg. Those unable to attend the Medaille Tri-match can tune in with live video at
https://bit.ly/3rQukjQ.
Last Time Out: The team beat the Alfred University Saxons 3-0 on October 8. The win was the team's 13th this season and now puts it one win shy of tying the program record that was set in 2002. The offense was clicking for the Pioneers as they netted 38 kills.
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) led the team with 14 kills and was followed by
Brianna Woods (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) with eight and
Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug ) with five. The team's serving was phenomenal as
Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee), Cepiel, and
Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) all recorded two or more service aces. Defensively, Woods,
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor), and
Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham ) each netted a pair of blocks and were the front line of the Pioneer defense. Utica's defense played well as
McKenna LaPorte (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse),
Krystell Pappas (Owensboro, KY/Owensboro), and
Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham ) all tallied more than 10 digs this afternoon.
Where We Stand: The Pioneers are 13-7 this season and 3-2 in Empire 8 Conference play. Utica continues its fantastic season as it is fourth in the Empire 8 standings and within striking distance of second place. With four conference matches left, the Pioneers will look to lock up an Empire 8 postseason berth for the first time since 2002 (excluding the shortened 2020 season). Utica has been outstanding defensively and is first in the Empire 8 in opponent hitting percentage as it has constantly forced opponents into errors. The team ranks third in blocks per set with 95.5 on the season and third in digs with 1160. Offensively, the team is second in service aces with 191 on the season.
Chasing History: The Pioneers are now one win shy of tying the program record of 14 wins which was set in the 2002 season. Individually, Cepiel is now in sixth place in career kills with 661 and looks to keep climbing the all-time ranks. The West Sand Lake native is also now tenth in career digs with 746.
Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) is now seventh for the single-season record with 542 assists. Maggiore's outstanding play has her at 7.32 assists per set which is third best in a season for any player who has played over 21 sets in a season in Pioneer history. Maggiore and Jones are both looking in on the top-10 service aces in a season and look to keep their strong serving seasons going.
No "El's" Here: Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) has been named the Eastern College Athletic Conference North Offensive and Defensive Player of the Month for September, as announced by the ECAC this past Thursday. The awards continue to pile up for Cepiel and her accomplished career as she was named Empire 8 Player of the Week twice this season. Cepiel's ability to produce both offensively and defensively has helped guide the Pioneers toward its successful season.
The senior's best overall performance this month came against St. Lawrence on September 16th. Cepiel was able to put together an amazing stat line of 17 kills and 25 digs. On the month, she has recorded 214 kills and 213 digs through the team's 16 games and has led them to a 10-6 record over the month. The West Sand Lake native is first in the Empire 8 in kills per set as she amasses 3.32 kills a set. She is also eighth in the Empire 8 in digs with 232 as she is averaging 3.36 per set. Yet, her most impressive feat is that she is first in the Empire 8 in points this season with 250.5. She has a 13.5 lead over second place, and a whopping 40 point lead over third place.
Young Difference Makers: Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham ),
Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug ), and
Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) continue to shine for the Pioneers this season. Both Brennan and Migliaccio are top-five on the team in kills with over 70 and sport over 1.00 kills per set. Meanwhile, Jones is second on the team with 41 service aces which is fourth in the Empire 8. Migliaccio is a force on defense and has 38 blocks this season which is 18 above any other player on the team.
Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders are 6-12 this season and sport a 3-3 Empire 8 record. In the team's last match on Saturday the team lost to Nazareth College 3-1. Houghton has a very balanced attack as the team has four players with over 100 kills this season. Their top attacker Julie Immel has 151 kills and is eighth in the Empire 8 with 2.60 kills per season. Defensively, the team has three players over 100 digs. Rebekah Clark has been an anchor with a whopping 216 digs which is seventh in the Empire 8.
Looking at Medaille: The Mavericks are 4-17 on the year and are 2-4 in Empire 8 this far. On Saturday the team fell in three sets to Elizabethtown College. Medaille will face Keuka College on Friday at 6 p.m. before hosting the Medaille Tri-match on Saturday. The team will face Utica at 1 p.m. to begin the Tri-match in an Empire 8 match. The Mavericks are led offensively by Chase Luebeck and Halle Bogas who both have over 175 kills this year. Defensively the Mavericks have five players with over 100 digs including Avery Ang, Baylee Romano, and Halle Bogas who have recorded more than 200. Romano and Bogas are both top five in the Empire 8 in total digs this season and have been anchors for the Mavericks.
William Smith Outlook: The Herons are 9-4 this and 2-1 in Liberty League action. The team won its last match 3-1 over Skidmore College on Saturday to record another Liberty League win. On Wednesday the team will face RIT before squaring off with Utica at 3 p.m. in their first match of the Medaille Tri-match. William Smith has three players with over 100 kills as Malya Sayre leads the team with 150 this season. Sayre is fourth in the Liberty League in kills per set with a whopping 3.11. Malya is a factor defensively as she is second on the team with 106 kills and Ariana Angus leads the team with 109 digs.
Up Next: Utica will return home to host Russell Sage on October 21 at 6 p.m. to continue Empire 8 play and celebrate its seniors on senior night.
