KEUKA PARK, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell on the road to the Keuka College Wolves, 3-0, on Wednesday evening in Empire 8 action. 
 
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) led the team with 12 kills on a .111 hitting percentage while adding 15 digs and a block to her line. She will enter the team's next match just 16 kills away from becoming the all-time program leader. Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) tallied five kills as well. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) finished tied with a team high nine assists. Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) finished atop the team with 16 digs. Cepiel, Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) and Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) all totaled a block as well. 
 
As a team, the Pioneers totaled 22 kills on a -0.019 hitting percentage (24 errors) while the Wolves tallied 33 kills and hit .170 (15 errors). 
 
Keuka commanded the early stages of the first set, opening ahead 8-2. Utica rattled off five points in a row backed by a pair of Cepiel kills and a Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) ace to come within one at 8-7. However, the Wolves took off from there and would eventually climb ahead 21-11. A Cepiel Kill and Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) ace brought back some momentum for Utica but Keuka responded with four straight points to take the set. 
 
The second set proved to be much different as the Pioneers came out with a spark. Two Brennan kills and one by Cepiel, as well as some costly Keuka mistakes, aided Utica to a 6-1 lead. But the Wolves would not shy away. Down 8-5, the hosts went on a lengthy run to jump ahead 11-8 before eventually making it a 20-14 score. Utica fought right back, however. A 7-1 Pioneers' run evened the score at 21-21. Despite the momentum, the Wolves quickly denied Utica of evening the game at one set apiece by taking the final four points to go ahead 2-0. 
 
In the third set, Utica took the first point before the Wolves got the ball rolling. What started as a  4-1 Keuka advantage grew into a 19-8 lead before Utica ultimately fell in the set, 25-14, to end the contest. 
 
Utica (12-9, 2-2 Empire 8) will return to action on Friday, October 20 at home against Elmira College for the team's Senior Night. Game time is set for 7 p.m.