CLARKS SUMMIT, PA - The Utica University volleyball team was fantastic at the Clarks Summit Quad Match sweeping all three of its matches this afternoon.
 
Utica 3, Clarks Summit 0
 
Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) led the team with seven kills while Eleanor Cepiel (West Sand Lake, NY/Academy of Holy Names) and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) each had five. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) was phenomenal with five aces while Jones (3) and Hannah Johnson (Murfreesboro, TN/Blackman) (1) were also key contributors. Johnson and Jones each recorded double-digit assists while Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community), Cepiel, and Jones each had at least six digs defensively.  
 
The Pioneers dominated with 34 kills and a .329 attacking percentage while forcing 17 errors. 
 
Utica jumped out to a 3-2 lead before an incredible eleven-point run to open a 16-3 edge. The Pioneers kept their momentum going and won the first set 25-6.
 
Utica used two large runs to hold a quick 13-3 advantage in set two and its offense became overpowering and secured a 25-7 win in set two.
 
The third set started off close with the Pioneers up 6-3. Yet, Utica started to click on both sides of the ball and a Cassi Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) service ace secured the 25-9 set win and completed the sweep.
 
Utica 3, Penn State Abington 0
 
Cepiel led the way for Utica with 15 kills while Brennan (7), and Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) (5) were also key parts of the offense. Madison Maggiore (Orangeburg, NY/Tappan Zee) had a season-high six service aces while Jones and Johnson each added two. Johnson tied a career-high with 20 assists in the match, Jones (8), and Livya Leider (Homestead, FL/Felix Varela) (3) did well in setting up teammates. Jones and Leider each tallied 11 digs while Jones and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) each recorded one block.
 
The Pioneers and the Nittany Lions were tied 5-5 to begin the first set and the teams continued to exchange points with the set tied at 13-13. The Utica defense played well down the stretch and forced an error to win the first set 25-20.
 
Abington held a 4-2 edge in set two yet the Pioneer offense started to get going and an eight-point run fueled Utica to a 19-9 advantage. Back-to-back service aces by Maggiore secured a 25-11 set two win.
 
The Pioneers wasted no time holding a 7-1 lead to begin the third. Utica held a 17-10 advantage and closed out the match on a four-point run to win the set 25-12 and secure the sweep.
 
Utica 3, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 0
 
Jones fueled the offense with nine kills while Maggiore and Migliaccio each tallied four. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) set a career-high with an incredible seven service aces while Johnson (5) and Maggiore (2) were also key contributors. Migliaccio and Anthony each had two blocks while Jones added one. Wagemann led the team defensively, compiling 10 digs while Cepiel (7) and Samantha Albirght (6) were also anchors.
 
The Pioneer offense wasted no time with a quick 12-2 edge as the team's offense was phenomenal. Wilkes-Barre responded with a four-point run, yet Utica used a nine-point run to win the set 25-9.
 
Wilkes-Barre grabbed a 5-2 edge but the Utica offense became too much, taking a 16-13 lead and holding on for a 25-19 set win.
 
Wilkes-Barre had a strong start to set three with a 4-2 lead yet the Pioneers rallied to grab a 6-4 advantage. The teams continued to exchange points before Utica used an eight-point run to fuel the team to a 25-14 set win and complete the sweep.
 
Utica (7-5, 0-0 Empire 8) will head to Washington, DC for the Worthington Classic beginning on Friday, September 22 at 4 p.m.