UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team is set to begin a one match week hosting Houghton University on Wednesday, October 4 at 7 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend this week's match can tune in for live video and/or stats here.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers fell to Hartwick College 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in an Empire 8 battle. Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) led the Pioneers with 18 kills while Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) (9) and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) (6) were also key facets of the offensive attack. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) and Jones were the prime setters, each recording at least 17 assists in the match. Maggiore led the team with three service aces while Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) and Jones each had one. The team was active defensively with Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) leading the team with three blocks while Brennan (2) and Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) (1) were also heavily involved. Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) was fantastic with 16 digs as Cepiel and Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) both tallied nine. The Hawks grabbed a 6-1 edge in the first set, yet Utica rallied to cut the deficit to just one. The teams continued to battle with Hartwick grabbing a late lead and holding on for a 25-18 set one victory. Hartwick started off strong again in set two with a 6-2 advantage, but the Pioneers battled back to trail just 8-6. The Hawks used two late runs to win set two 25-16 and grab a 2-0 edge in the contest. Utica came out firing in the third set grabbing an 8-5 lead. The Pioneers continued to play well on both sides of the ball and increased their lead to 14-8. Utica would keep its momentum rolling and win set three 25-22 and cut the match lead to 2-1. The teams kept exchanging points in the fourth set with Utica trailing just 16-14 halfway through the set. The Pioneers kept battling yet a late Hartwick run let them win the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
 
Where We Stand: The Pioneers currently sit in a tie for fourth in the conference with a 1-1 Empire 8 record in the early portions of league play. The team currently ranks in the top half of the conference in points, opponent hitting percentage, hitting percentage, kills, blocks, service aces, and digs. Utica excels in digs ranking first with 1095 which is 159 more than anyone else in the conference. The Pioneers defense has also excelled ranking third in opponent hitting percentage allowing an average .136.
 
Chasing History: Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) and Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) are both on the cusp of history in multiple categories. Cepiel sits at 985 kills which is just 15 away from becoming the second player in program history to eclipse that mark. The graduate student is also just 45 kills away from becoming the all-time program leader. She also has 1,077 career digs which currently ranks fifth all-time and is 80 behind fourth and 1,090.5 career points which also sits at fifth all-time and is 52 behind fourth on the list. Maggiore has totaled an incredible 1,480 assists in her time as a Pioneer which is just six behind third all-time. The senior has amassed 150 service aces over her career which is just one behind fifth all-time. 
 
Catch Me On the Outside: Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) has budded into a star during her sophomore season ranking second on the team with 97 kills and is also active defensively with 66 digs and nine blocks. The Southbury, CT native has been a steady source of production on offense with double-digit kills in three matches this season and with 318 total attacks this season.
 
Steady Playmakers: The trio of Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community), and Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) have been effective for the Pioneers this season and all turned in impressive outings last week. Jones amassed 15 kills, 39 assists, six service aces, and 25 digs over her three appearances and continues to make an impact in multiple facets of the game. Wright tallied 32 digs and five aces over the last week and has done well at extending the play. Wagemann turned in another great week as the team's libero recording at least six digs in all of her outings and had an incredible 16 against Hartwick College on Saturday, September 30.
 
Block Party: The Pioneers have done tremendous down low this season with 70.5 blocks. Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) has had a breakout season with 28 blocks and ranks third in the Empire 8 averaging .70 blocks per set. Jones is second on the team with 22 blocks while Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) (18), Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) (15), and Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) (12) have also been prime defenders this season.
 
Looking at Houghton: The Highlanders are 4-8 this season and have not played a conference match yet this season. The team fell to Buffalo State University 3-0 in its last match on Tuesday, September 26. The offensive duo of Ainslie Reimer and Emma Cole are fantastic with each boasting over 100 kills thus far. Reimer is also the team's top defender boasting 135 digs while Cole leads the team with 18 blocks. Julie Immel and Hannah Catalino are two more players to look out for with Immel doing well on offense and Catalino being a premiere defender.
 
Up Next: The team will travel to face Keuka College on Wednesday, October 11 at 7 p.m.