UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team is set to begin play in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament this week. The team will head to face No. 3 Keuka College on Tuesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. If Utica wins it would head to face No. 2 Hartwick College on Thursday, November 9 in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament Semifinals with the time to be determined.
 
Follow Along: Keuka will provide live stats and/or video here. If the team advances, Hartwick will provide live stats and/or video at a later date.
 
Admission: Tickets prices for Empire 8 Championship events are as follows. Keuka accepts cash only. Adults are $6, students with ID are $4, and children 12 and under are free.
 
Last Time Out: The team beat SUNY Cobleskill 3-1 on Thursday night to wrap up regular season play. Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) was dominant once again and led the offense with a ridiculous 19 kills while Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) and Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) were also a force each tallying eight. The eight kills were a new career-high for Anthony who was fantastic on both sides of the ball. The trio of Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee), Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman), and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) all served well with each recording at least two aces. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) was the main helping hand tonight tallying 21 assists while Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) was also effective with 13. Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) was incredible on defense with a whopping six blocks during the match. The duo of Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) and Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) were also dominant with each amassing three blocks. Cepiel led Utica with 18 digs while Jones (10), and Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) (eight) were also heavily involved. Cobleskill began set one on a strong 6-0 run, but Utica stormed back cutting the deficit to just 6-4. The Pioneers knotted the set at 10-10 and the teams exchanged leads yet the Fighting Tigers used a rally to hold a 22-16 lead late. Utica used its magic to tie the set 24-24 and relied on its momentum to grab the set 27-25 and take a 1-0 edge in the match. Set two had a similar beginning with Cobleskill holding an early 4-0 advantage. Yet, the Pioneers rallied back to grab a 9-6 lead after some strong serving by Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman). An Anthony kill gave Utica a 14-9 edge yet Cobleskill knotted the score at 14-14. The teams kept exchanging points, yet the Fighting Tigers used a late run to win the set 25-22 and even the match at 1-1. Set three featured the Pioneers starting out strong with a 5-3 advantage. The team's offense really started to click, jumping out to a 16-9 lead. The Fighting Tigers cut into the lead making it just 16-14 but Utica held a 23-18 edge late. Cobleskill made it interesting grabbing a 24-23 edge, yet Utica rallied to win the set 29-27 and take a 2-1 lead in the match. Set four was tied 4-4 before Utica's offense became overpowering, holding a quick 14-6 advantage after multiple kills by Cepiel and Brennan. The Pioneers defense also turned up with Esposito leading the charge and recording a block on three straight Cobleskill attacks to give Utica a 19-7 lead. Cobleskill threatened late yet the Pioneers held on for a 25-18 set win and won the match 3-1.
 
The Field: The 2023 Empire 8 Conference Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament will feature the conference's top six teams from regular season play. First round action will feature No. 3 Keuka hosting No. 6 Utica and the No. 4 Nazareth Golden Flyers hosting the No. 5 Alfred Saxons on Tuesday, Nov. 7. On Thursday, Nov. 9, No. 1 St. John Fisher will host the winner of the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in one semifinal and No. 2 Hartwick will host the winner of the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds in the second semifinal in Semifinal action. The two semifinal winners will meet on Saturday, Nov. 11 in the E8 Championship at the highest remaining seed. The Empire 8 Champion will earn an automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament.
 
Postseason History: This will be the second consecutive postseason appearance for the Pioneers and fourth overall in program history. The team won its first ever postseason match in 2022 when it was the No. 6 seed and upset No. 3 Nazareth University to make it to the Empire 8 Conference Tournament Semifinals where it eventually fell to No. 2 Hartwick College. This berth will be the teams third in the past four seasons with the other coming in 2002.
 
Prior Playoff Performances: Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names), Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman), and Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) have the most postseason experience on the roster with each appearing in three matches. Cepiel has recorded at least six kills and four digs in all of her outings. Maggiore had a huge postseason last season turning in two sensational outings with 31 assists, six digs and one assist against Nazareth and then 17 assists, nine digs, and four service aces. Johnson has made her impact with her terrific serving and looks to keep providing the team with energy in each serve. The squad of Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor), Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern), Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), and Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) all played in both postseason matches last season and each made their impact. Wadley had a strong eight kills against Nazareth with Migliaccio and Esposito each racking up at least three kills and two blocks in the same match. Jones was strong defensively tallying at least six digs in both of her postseason outings and will bring her court vision and serving to the table.
 
Scouting Keuka: The Wolves went 18-6 with a 6-2 conference record in regular season play this season to earn the No. 3 seed. Keuka topped Utica 3-0 in the team's lone meeting on Wednesday, October 11. The Wolves are 10-0 at home this season and led by the Empire 8's top offensive weapon in Dayna Edholm. Edholm leads the E8 in kills (343) and kills per set with 4.13 and has accounted for nearly 34 percent of the team's offensive production. Nina Scott and Camey Knapp are two more offensive threats with each racking up over 100 kills this season. The offense also features Emma Sipos who's 53 service aces are second in the conference. Sipos is also one of the premier defenders with 377 digs and her 4.19 digs per set ranking .21 higher than anyone else in the conference. Edholm and Kendra Waltz are two more crucial players on defense with each amassing over 200 digs.
 
Looking at Hartwick: The Hawks went 14-9 with a 6-2 conference record to clinch the No. 2 seed for the second consecutive season. Hartwick topped Utica 3-1 in their only matchup thus far on Saturday, September 30. The Hawks boast a steady offensive attack with three players tallying more than 164 kills. Staecia Silofau leads the charge with 250 kills with Shaelyn Thornton (203) and Shelby Swartz (164) being prime contributors. Thornton's 50 service aces rank second in the conference and she is a viable serving option. The duo of Thornton and Sarah Petz lead the way defensively with each racking up more than 240 digs this season with Petz's 3.20 digs per set ranking 10th in the Empire 8. The trio of Silofau, Aaliyah Williams, and Swartz are fantastic down low with each recording at least 50 blocks this season.

Up Next: The winner of Hartwick and Utica/Keuka will head to the Empire 8 Conference Tournament on Saturday, November 11 with the time and opponent to be determined.