ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Nazareth University Golden Flyers in its final Empire 8 Conference matchup of the regular season.
 
Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) had another fantastic performance racking up 19 kills to lead the team while Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) (7), and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) (5) were also important offensive factors. Jones led the team with 19 assists while Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) (10), and Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) (5) were also helping set up the offense. Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) had two service aces with Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) tacking on one.
 
The trio of Jones, Anthony, and Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) each had two blocks and were key defenders. The duo of Wagemann and Cepiel continued to dominate defensively with each amassing 14 or more kills on the afternoon.
 
Nazareth would pull out to a 4-0 lead early in the first set. The Pioneers would begin to battle back, cutting into the Nazareth lead after a pair of kills from Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor), one from Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug), to come within one at 6-7. Utica's offensive efforts would not be enough as Nazareth would walk away with the first set, 25-14. 
 
The second set would prove to be a back-and-forth battle for the Pioneers; each side would trade blows before Utica would come ahead in the set at 13-9. Nazareth would then cut the Utica lead in half after some back-and-forth action, tying the set at 19 apiece. Utica would not be able to hold on through the end, as Nazareth would walk away with set two 25-22, putting them up in the match 2-0. 
 
Entering the third set down 2-0 in the match, the Pioneer offense would trade blows with the Golden Flyers tying the set at 7 apiece before tightening the reins and pulling out to a 13-7 lead. The Pioneers would hold onto the offensive momentum, not allowing the Golden Flyers to cut into the Utica lead by more than three, walking away with the third set 25-20 to get on the board in the match down 2-1. 
 
The final set was all gas, no brakes for the Golden Flyer offense, as Nazareth would go up in the set 14-5. Both teams would trade blows, but the early Nazareth lead was enough to overwhelm the Pioneers, and the Golden Flyers would walk away with the set 25-14 and win the match 3-1.
 
Utica (14-12, 3-5 Empire 8) will continue their road trip next week to take on crosstown rival SUNY Poly with the game set for 7 p.m.