AURORA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team beat the Wells College Express 3-1 on Wednesday night to extend its winning streak to three-straight.

During the first set Utica relied on its offense to produce points as the team tried to jump out to an early lead. The Pioneers amassed 15 kills during the set and a remarkable .333 hitting percentage, one of their highest this season. Utica was able to force the Express into mistakes (five errors) and a poor hitting percentage (.094) and win the first set 25-18.

Heading into the second set the tide had changed and Wells began to gain the offensive momentum. The Express tallied 15 kills which would be their most in any set on the day and forced the Pioneers to rely on their defense. Since Utica was forced to rely on their defense so much the team tallied their fewest kills (nine) in any set today and dropped the set 25-18, tying the match at 1-1. 

The Pioneers would not back down and stole the momentum right back and went back to their bread-and-butter offense to jump out to an early lead. The team was able to amass 12 kills and hold the Express to a match low six kills for the set. Utica's defense was the difference in this set as the team held Wells to a match low .033 hitting percentage and forced them into more errors. The Pioneers would win the set 25-17 and gain a 2-1 advantage in the match.
In the fourth set the Pioneers would make a statement with their offense and posted 15 kills with a .308 hitting percentage. Yet, this did not come easy as Wells played their best set recording 13 kills and a match best .294 hitting percentage for the team. Utica would squeak out a 25-21 set win in a tough fought back and forth set resulting in a 3-1 match win.

Utica's offense was continuing to produce as they tallied 51 kills for the match led by Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) (15), Kurstan Martin (Owego, NY/Tioga) (10), and Brianna Woods (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) with nine. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) continued her helping hand and delivered a season high 45 assists and added to her Empire 8 lead in assists. The team recorded nine service aces and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham ) produced four aces, her second highest mark of the season. Jones also played terrific defensively and amassed 10 digs which was second on the Pioneers behind Cepiel (18).

Utica (8-5, 0-0 Empire 8) will return home to host St. John Fisher University on Friday at 5 p.m. to kick off Empire 8 Conference play.