ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell to St. John Fisher 3-0 on Friday night in an Empire 8 match.
 
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) led the team with nine kills while Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) tallied three. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) each held the team lead with eight assists. The Pioneers did well serving with Cepiel recording five and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) (3) and Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) (1) also being prime contributors. Defensively, Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) had 16 digs with Cepiel (6) and Jones (5) also being active.
 
Set one was back and forth and was tied at 7-7 until Fisher grabbed a 14-7 edge after a 7-0 run. Utica kept clawing back yet the Cardinals held on for a 25-12 set one win to grab a 1-0 edge in the match.
 
The match was much of the same to being set two with the teams exchanging blows and the set being knotted at 13-13. Fisher had a 3-0 run yet the Pioneers bounced back with a pair of points as the battle continued. Utica trailed just 21–20 yet Fisher pulled away and won the set 25-21 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The third set was tied 4-4 early on before Utica took a 9-8 advantage. Yet, Fisher responded to take a 15-13 lead and used a late run to grab a 21-14 edge. The Pioneers continued to chip away yet the Cardinals won the set 25-15 and the match 3-0.
 
Utica (14-11, 3-4 Empire 8) will continue its road trip and face Nazareth University on Saturday October 28 at 2 p.m.