UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team is set for two home games this week. On Friday, October 11 the team will take on the Alfred University Saxons at 7pm in the Clark Athletic Center. On Saturday, October 12 the Pioneers will take on the Houghton University Highlanders at 1pm in the team's annual Fight for the Cure Match.
Follow Along: Live video for both weekend games can be found at: https://empire8network.com/utica/ Live stats for both games can be found at: https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Last Time Out: Leading the way for the Pioneers was Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community), who tallied nine kills in the contest. Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) slammed seven kills and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) recorded four. Assisting on the Pioneer kills was Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who recorded 17 assists, and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) who tallied seven. At the service line, Wright recorded three aces, Jones tallied two and Hanba and Cassandra Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) each recorded one. On defense, Wright tallied 16 digs, Jones tallied 11 and Wagemann recorded six. At the net, Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) recorded two blocks while Jones and Bailey each recorded one.
Hit the Deck: The Pioneers have had a strong offense, totalling 484 kills so far this season, a mark that puts Utica just outside of the top five as a team in the conference. Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) leads the team and is ninth in the conference with her impressive 133 kills this season, averaging 2.89 kills per set. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug), and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) have all entered the 60+ kills club this season, tallying 68, 66, and 62 kills so far this season, respectively.
Freshman Standouts: Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) has had a great start to her freshman campaign, tallying 36 kills in 19 sets played. The outside hitter is averaging 1.89 kills per set, and has also notched six service aces so far this season. Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) has also played a large role for the Pioneers so far this season, dishing out 38 assists in 15 sets played, averaging 2.53 assists per set.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Since the beginning of the season, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) and Cassandra Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) have been in the top 10 for digs in the Empire 8. Wright currently leads the conference with 220 digs this season and an average of 4.78 digs per set. Wageman is third in the conference with a total of 188 digs, averaging 4.37 per set. Against Hartwick, Wright had 16 digs and Wagemann recorded six.
Scouting the Saxons: The Alfred University Saxons are 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8. Since 2001, Utica has played Alfred 24 times and won 11 of those games. Taylor Malone leads the team and is third in the conference with 161 kills, averaging 3.5 kills per set. Jamie Chun has 22 service aces which puts her first for the team, followed by Anjoeline Armstrong with 20. Seventh in the conference, Jamie Chun also leads the team in digs with 183, averaging 3.89 per set. Cara Bratthauar leads the team and sits at third in the conference for blocks with six solo blocks and 22 block assists.
Looking at Houghton: The Houghton Highlanders are 5-9 overall and 2-0 in the conference. leading the team on offense, Lilly Bentley has 136 kills so far this season, followed by Ainslie Reimer with 104. Ella Smith has 32 service aces, earning her fifth in the Empire 8. Logan Baer has a total of 21 this season. Reimer also leads the team in digs, averaging 3.48 per set with a total of 188. Natalie Rivera followers Reimer with 133, the two hold the ninth and tenth spots in the Empire 8 for digs. Emma Cole is seventh in the conference for blocks with a total of 14 solo blocks and 20 block assists. The Pioneers beat the Highlanders last year breaking the 14 game losing streak.
Up Next: Utica travels to take on Empire 8 Conference newcomer SUNY Brockport on Friday, October 18. Game time in Brockport, NY is set for 6pm.
