UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell in an Empire 8 Conference matchup to the visiting Nazareth University Golden Flyers on Saturday afternoon as the team honored its seniors, by a score of 3-0.
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) who recorded 10 kills, Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who recorded five and Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) who recorded four. Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the team in assists with 11, and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) had five. At the service line, Wright led the team with three aces, Bailey notched two, and Jones as well as Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) each recorded one. On defense, Samara Hunt (Fultonville, NY/Fonda-Fultonville Central) recorded 13 digs, Wright recorded 12 and Cassandra Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) recorded 10. At the net, Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) recorded three blocks, including one solo, while Jones and Bailey each assisted on a block. 
 
The opening frame would see Utica jump ahead by two early in the set before trading blows with Nazareth to bring the score to 8-5 in favor of the Pioneers. Nazareth would then go on a five point run to go ahead in the set at 10-8 and then follow that up with a three point run to put the Golden Flyers ahead at 13-9. Utica would then go on a four point run highlighted by kills from Wright and Bailey and a pair of attacking errors by the Golden Flyers to knot the set at 13 apiece. The Pioneers would exchange two-for-one points with Nazareth to allow the Golden Flyers the lead at 19-16. Nazareth would then go on a four point run to end the set with a final score of 25-17. 
 
The middle set would see Nazareth jump out to an early 8-1 lead before the Pioneers would be able to string together a four point run with a pair of aces from Wright to cut the Utica deficit to three at 8-5. Utica would keep pushing the deficit, coming within two points of the lead until Nazareth would grow its lead to five on a three point run to go ahead at 15-10. Utica would be unable to find its footing, then allowing the Golden Flyers a six point run to put them ahead in the set at 21-12. The Pioneers would follow that up with a five point run of their own with a pair of aces and a kill from Bailey to put the set back within reach, but it would be the Golden Flyers that would close out the middle frame 25-19.
 
The final frame would see Utica opening with an early two point lead before allowing the Golden Flyers a six point run to put them ahead in the set at 7-3. The Pioneers would take the next two points and then follow that up with a five point run on a pair of kills from Hanba, a kill from Bailey, and an ace from Jones to go ahead in the set at 10-8. Utica would be able to hold onto its slim lead while trading blows with Nazareth before exploding for another five point run. A pair of attacking errors by the Golden Flyers and a trio of kills from Wright would put the Pioneers in their largest lead of the game at 18-12. Nazareth would follow that up with a trio of points of its own, but Utica would remain strong to keep its lead at 20-15. The Pioneers would then allow Nazareth the lead back after a seven point run to give up the lead at 22-20. Utica would be unable to hold on and Nazareth would walk away with the set at 25-22. \
 
Utica (5-14, 1-8 Empire 8) returns to action on Friday, November 1 as the team travels to Keuka Park, NY to take on the Keuka College Wolves in the team's final week of conference play. Game time is set for 6pm.