TROY, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell in conference play to the Russell Sage Gators this evening by a score of 3-0. 

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community), who recorded six kills in the contest. Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) recorded five kills and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) recorded three. Assisting on the Pioneer kills was Jones and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) who each tallied nine assists. At the service line, Bailey and Wright each recorded a service ace. On defense, Jones recorded 18 digs, Wright recorded 17 and Cassandra Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) recorded 13. 

The opening set would see Utica jump out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of attacking errors, a lead the Pioneers would hold onto for half the set. Teams would trade blows with the Pioneers putting together a trio of points on a kill by Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and a pair of Gator errors before allowing a four-point run by the Gators to knot the set at 14 apiece. The teams would once again trade points before Utica would allow a trio of Sage kills to allow the Gators the lead at 21-20. Utica would be unable to find its footing in the remainder of the set, falling 25-23. 

The second frame would see both teams trade blows before knotting at seven a side. Utica would then capitalize on a pair of errors and a kill from Ancewicz to go up in the set at 10-7. Sage would then string together three points to knot the set once more at 10 each. Both teams would then go point for point before Sage would string together another trio of points to take the lead in the set at 17-16. The teams would once again trade offensive efforts before Utica would put together a trio of points on kills from Bailey and Wright to take the lead in the set at 23-20. The Pioneers would be unable to close out the set falling 25-23. 

The third set would see Sage jump out to an early 6-2 lead. Both teams would then trade blows before Utica would allow a four point run to fall behind in the set at 12-8. Utica would attempt to cut into the deficit, but the efforts would come up unfounded as Sage would hold onto the lead at 20-12. Utica would then put together a trio of points on kills from Jones and Wright and a Sage error to cut the deficit to five, but would be unable to complete the comeback and fall in the set 25-20. 

Utica (5-7, 1-1 Empire 8) returns home to take on the Hartwick College Hawks in an Empire 8 conference showdown. Game time from the Clark Athletic Center is set for 1pm.