UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team will hit the road to face Keuka College on Wednesday, October 11 at 7 p.m. in an Empire 8 matchup.
 
Follow Along: Keuka will provide live video and/or stats for those who are unable to attend here.
 
Last Time Out: The team topped Houghton University 3-1 on Wednesday, October 4 to collect another Empire 8 victory. It was historic for the Pioneers as Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) became just the second player in all-time program history to record 1,000 career kills. She is now just 28 away from becoming the all-time program leader. Cepiel led the way with 17 kills while Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) (7) and Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) (5) were also prime contributors on offense. The eight kills was a season-high for Esposito and she was a fantastic asset for Utica in the match. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) each recorded 16 assists for the team and were setting up the offense. Jones was effective serving, tallying a team-leading three aces while Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) (2) and Cepiel (1) also did well. It was a career night for Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) who recorded an incredible six blocks and was wreaking havoc on the defensive end. Esposito and Jones each added a pair of blocks while Cepiel, Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George), and Jones each had more than nine digs in the match. The teams exchanged points to begin set one with it being 4-4 early on. The Highlanders grabbed a 15-8 edge yet the Pioneers rallied to cut the deficit to 15-13. The teams kept battling as the set was knotted at 19-19 before a late Houghton run had them steal the first set 25-22 and take a 1-0 lead in the match. The Pioneers started to take off in the second set. A 5-0 run to open play, fueled by Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) serving and Houghton errors, was soon turned into an 8-3 edge. However, the Highlanders chipped away as the visitors eventually came within one at 15-14. Two more Houghton errors and an Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) ace put Utica back up 18-14 but once again, the Highlanders came back within one at 19-18. Kills by Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South), two by Cepiel and another by Jones brought the set to a close. Utica grasped an early 3-0 edge in set three and tacked onto its lead to hold an 11-5 advantage as its offense was flourishing. The Pioneers kept pouring it on yet a late Houghton run saw Utica lead the set 20-16 late. Kills from Esposito and Cepiel helped Utica pull away and win the set 25-17 and take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Pioneers started set four with a 3-0 edge and used a nine-point run with Jones serving to take a commanding 16-5 edge. Utica kept its offense churning and a pair of Cepiel kills sealed the set with a 25-11 victory and 3-1 match win.
 
Where We Stand: The team is a part of a three-way tie for third in the conference with Nazareth and Keuka, who also sport a 2-1 Empire 8 record thus far. The Pioneers continue to have a well-balanced attack ranking top-five in the conference in points, opponent hitting percentage, hitting percentage, opponent blocks, blocks, service aces, and digs. Utica remains on top of the conference in digs with 1153 and averages 16.96 per set which is .91 better than anyone in the E8. 
 
History Check: After becoming just the second player all-time in program history to record 1,000 kills, Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) is now just 28 away from becoming the program's all-time leader. The West Sand Lake, NY native is also closing in on becoming fourth all-time in career digs and career points. Standout setter Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) has accumulated 1,496 assists in her career which is just 41 away from becoming second all-time in program history. The senior also has 151 aces in her storied career which is tied for fifth all-time and she is eight away from taking sole possession of fourth all-time. 
 
Meet Me at the Net: Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) continues her standout season and has become a force down low. The West Nyack, NY native had a fantastic outing against Houghton University recording a career-high six blocks including two solo blocks. Anthony now ranks eighth in the Empire 8 averaging .51 blocks per set.
 
Special Delivery: Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) has excelled during her breakout season and is starting to emerge as a threat on the offensive end. The junior tallied a season-high seven kills against Houghton on a perfect seven attempts. She has now recorded four or more kills in three-straight games which is the longest streak of her career. The Haddam, CT native's 39 kills this season have already tied her total from last season.

Scouting Keuka: The Wolves are 12-4 this season and sport a 2-1 conference record thus far which is a part of a three-way tie for third place. The team topped Houghton University 3-2 in its last match on Saturday, October 7 to collect its second consecutive Empire 8 victory. The offense is led by standout Dayna Edholm who is tied for the second most kills in the E8 (222) and leads the conference in kills per set averaging 4.04 per set. Camey Knapp is another offensive threat with 100 kills this season. Emma Sipos is the conference's top server with an incredible 41 aces this season, Caitlynne Marczyk and Casey Hunziker also ranking top-six in the Empire 8 in service aces per set. Sipos is also phenomenal on the defensive end ranking third in the conference with 238 digs this season. Edholm is also another premier defender with 174 digs thus far. 
 
Up Next: The team will return home and host Elmira College on Friday, October 20 at 7 p.m. while honoring its seniors.