UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell on the road to the Houghton University Highlanders 3-0 on Friday night.
 
The first set was back-and-forth as each team would exchange leads. The Pioneers would go up 6-4 as its offense was clicking with four early kills. The team's continued to switch leads and the set was tied at 14-14 before a seven-point scoring run by the Highlanders. Utica would stop the bleeding, yet Houghton was able to close the set out 25-15 and go up 1-0 in the match.
 
To begin the second set the Pioneers offense was clicking. Utica would have an 11-4 lead as kills by Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) and Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) would help spark the run. The Utica defense during the run was terrific as it forced the Highlanders into multiple errors. Houghton came storming back as it cut the deficit to 15-10 through four kills. Utica opened a 19-17 advantage before Houghton tied the set 19-19 for the set's first tie since 1-1. The teams would exchange points before the Highlanders outlasted the Pioneers rally and won the set 25-22 and led 2-0 in the match.
 
The third set opened with a 10-3 Highlander edge as Rebekah Clark collected multiple points during the run. Utica stormed back and cut the Highlander advantage to 13-10 as kills by Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) and Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) helped get the offense going. However, Houghton would storm right back with a commanding 20-11 edge courtesy of its offense. The Pioneers would continue to lay out on the floor and put up a fight, yet Houghton won the set 25-13 and swept the match 3-0.
 
Utica's offense was led by Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) with 11 kills and followed by Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug ) (five) and Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) (four). Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) continued to be the main facilitator for the Pioneers as she recorded 19 assists and was constantly setting up the offense's heavy hitters. Defensively, Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) and Krystell Pappas (Owensboro, KY/Owensboro) led the team with 16 and 13 digs followed by Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham ) with 7. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) and Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) each recorded a block as part of the Pioneer front line of defense.
 
Utica (13-8, 3-3 Empire 8) will travel to Buffalo, NY to face Medaille University at 1 p.m. and William Smith College at 3 p.m. in the Medaille Tri-Match.