KEUKA PARK, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell 3-1 to Keuka College in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament on Tuesday night.
 
Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) led the offense with a career-high 11 kills while Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) (nine) and Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) (seven) were also prime contributors on offense. Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the team with 15 assists with Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) adding 13. Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) recorded two aces with Cepiel and Jones each tallying one.
 
Jones led the defense with three blocks while Esposito and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) each had two. Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) and Cepiel were fantastic, each recording at least 17 digs with Jones adding 14.
 
The first set was back and forth with six early ties before Utica grabbed a narrow 8-6 edge. Yet, the Wolves would tie the match again at 8-8. Keuka went on a run to open a 13-9 advantage, yet the Pioneers rallied to tie the set at 13-13 with some strong defense. The Wolves started to pull away holding a late 20-14 lead, yet Utica responded by cutting the deficit to just two. However, Keuka held on for a narrow 25-22 set one victory to grab a 1-0 advantage in the match.
 
Utica's offense propelled the team to an early 5-3 edge to begin set two. The Wolves began to battle back with the team's exchanging multiple ties with the set being knotted at 12-12 halfway through. The Pioneers defense got hot to force multiple Keuka errors and give the team an 18-14 edge to force a Wolves timeout. However, Keuka rallied to tie the set at 19-19 as the teams were exchanging blows down the final stretch of the set. The set featured another tie at 22-22 yet the Wolves rallied late to win the set 25-23 and hold a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Keuka held a quick 3-0 edge in set three, yet the Pioneers offense was able to tie the set at 6-6. The teams once again exchanged a handful of leads before the Wolves established a 17-15 advantage. Yet, the Pioneers clutched up down the stretch rallying to win the set 27-25 and trailed just 2-1 in the set.
 
The Wolves pounced to a quick 6-1 advantage to begin the fourth set. Keuka's offense was clicking and helped the team grasp a 20-8 edge. Utica started to cut into the deficit, yet Keuka held on for a 25-14 set win and won the match 3-1.