UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team will begin another busy week filled with four matches. The team will host SUNY Poly on Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. in its home opener and First Responders Night. Utica will then travel to Clarks Summit, PA for the Clarks Summit Quad-Match facing Clarks Summit at 11 a.m. followed by Penn State Abington (1 p.m.) and Penn State Wilkes-Barre (3 p.m.).
 
Last Time Out: The team fell to Alfred State 3-1 in its second match on day two of the Penn State Behrend Invitational. Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) led the charge for the Pioneers offense, recording herself a season-high seven kills, followed by Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) with five and Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with four apiece. Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) and Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) combined for 24 assists, with Johnson's 16 counting her in for her season high. Johnson also led the team with three aces, followed by Bailey with two, followed by Maggiore and Migliaccio with one each. In the first set, Alfred State pulled out to a 7-1 lead following a pair of service aces, as well as a pair of attack errors by Utica. Alfred State would maintain its offensive momentum and not allow Utica to cut into their lead by more than three, walking away with the first set 25-22. The second set brought on eight service aces by Alfred State and two six-point runs, allowing Alfred State to pull away and take the second set 25-14. Three multi-point runs in the third set, was enough for Utica to come away with the set win, as Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) recorded four kills. Five Alfred State attack errors were enough to bring Utica on top, taking the third set 25-22. In the fourth set, Utica jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a pair of kills from Wadley, and one from Bailey. Following a trio of Alfred State attack errors, Utica was ahead in the set 7-1. After trading blows, Alfred State was able to pull out a seven-point run to come ahead by one. The teams would again trade blows, until the Alfred State offense overwhelmed the Pioneers, allowing them to walk away with the set 25-20.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend Wednesday's home opener can tune in for live video and/or stats here. Clarks Summit will provide live video here and live stats here.
 
First Responders Night: This year will be the second annual Utica University Women's Volleyball First Responders match against SUNY Poly. The game is in honor of first responders not only in the Mohawk Valley, but across the country who risk their lives every day to keep the community safe. The team will honor First Responders before the game with a brief ceremony.
 
Early Success: Utica has had a strong start to the season with a handful of players ranked towards the top of the conference in various categories. Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) (.213) and Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) (.210) rank seventh and eighth in the Empire 8 in hitting percentage and have been bright spots on the offense. Each have recorded at least 22 kills and have more than 75 registered attempts this season. Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) ranks third in the Empire 8 with 3.43 kills per set and Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) ranks fourth in the conference with 7.17 assists per set. Defensively the team has stepped it up with Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) ranking third in blocks per set (.60) with Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George), Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names), and Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) all ranking top-ten in the conference with at least 3.44 digs per set.
 
Making an Impact: There have been a plethora of young Pioneers making an impact on the court this season. Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) and Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) have stepped up significantly with Anthony already eclipsing more sets played this year than last. Anthony has become a force on offense ranking fourth on the team with 26 kills. Freshman Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) and sophomore Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) have been premier contributors with each having at least 32 kills this season. Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) and Wright both rank top-three on the team in digs with each having at least 62 digs thus far. The trio of Jones, Esposito, and Anthony have been phenomenal defensively being the team's top-three blockers each having at least seven this season.
 
Scouting Poly: The Wildcats are 0-4 this season and have struggled to get their offense going this season. Brennah Durfee leads the team with 13 kills while Samantha Dee and Brooke Durfee are also the team's top offensive threats each sporting a .69 kills per set or higher. Defensively Brennah Durfee and Ryan Fitzgerald lead the charge with 35 digs each. Fitzgerald is also Poly's top server boasting four service aces this season.
 
The Quad-Match Field: Clarks Summit is 0-6 in the new campaign and has struggled to score points thus far. The team has 64 kills, 57 assists, 16 service aces, and 137 digs. Kylee Cole and Chloe Burhans lead the charge on both sides of the ball and are the players to look out for. Penn State Abington sports a 3-3 record and will face Bryn Mawr College on Friday, September 15 before heading to the Clarks Summit Quad Match. The team has 163 kills, 146 assists, 62 service aces, and 266 digs this season. Jayla Hickey is the team's top offensive threat while Morgan Schaefer is the defensive anchor. Penn State Wilkes-Barre is 0-1 in 2023 after falling to Penn College 3-0 on September 5. The team features plenty of newcomers with six freshmen and the entire roster of 12 players is all underclassmen and looks to continue to build the program.

Up Next: The team will travel to Washington, D.C. for the Washington Classic beginning on Friday, September 22 at 4 p.m. against Catholic University.