KEUKA PARK, NY - The Utica University volleyball team defeated the Keuka College Wolves in the team's second to last conference match by a score of 3-1 on Friday evening.
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) who recorded 10 kills, followed by Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) who recorded eight and Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) who tallied seven. Assisting on the Pioneers offensive efforts was Laure Jones who recorded 22 assists, followed by Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) who recorded eight. At the service line, Wright recorded three aces, followed by Jones and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who had a pair of aces each. On defense, Wright recorded 24 digs, followed by Jones with 14 and Bailey with eight. At the net, Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) recorded six total blocks, followed by Jones with three and Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) with one.
The opening frame would see Keuka jump out to an early 3-1 lead before Utica would string together four points to take the lead at 5-3. The teams would each trade back to back points before the Wolves would go on a seven point run to take the lead in the set at 12-7. The teams would trade blows with Utica attempting to get back in the set, but a three point Keuka run at the end of the set would allow the Wolves to take the opening frame, 25-17.
The Pioneers would open the second set with an early 5-1 lead on a trio of kills from Bailey and a pair of Wolves errors, and would then follow that up with a four point run with kills from Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) and Hanba as well as a ball handling error by the Wolves to maintain the Pioneer lead at 10-4. The teams would trade blows before Keuka would put together a four point run to knot the set at 13 apiece. The teams would then trade multi point runs to knot the set at 19 a side before trading blows. Utica would then put together a four point run on kills from Anthony and Bailey and a pair of Wolves errors to walk away with the set at 25-21.
The third set would see both teams open the set by trading blows before Keuka could take the lead at 6-3. Utica would then go on a four point run on a trio of errors and a kill from Bailey to go ahead in the set at 7-6. Utica would hold onto its lead before allowing the Wolves a four point run of its own to go ahead in the set at 11-9. The Pioneers would then take the next two points to knot the set at 11 apiece. Utica would then take 11 of the next 12 points, highlighted by a slew of errors by Keuka to take a commanding lead in the set at 22-14. Utica would allow the Wolves to cut into the deficit, allowing the Wolves the next seven out of eight points, before trading blows to take the set win at 25-22.
The final frame would see both teams trade pairs of points to knot the set at 4 a side early in the frame. Utica would then go on a six point run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Hanba and a slew of attacking errors by the Wolves to go ahead in the set at 11-6. The Pioneers would maintain their lead, and eventually add to it after a five point run with kills from Hanba and Anthony and more errors from the Wolves to go ahead at 23-17. Utica would then allow the Wolves to come within one on a five point run to bring the set to 23-22, but the Pioneers would prevail, walking away with the set 25-22.
Utica (6-14, 2-8 Empire 8) returns to action tomorrow afternoon, taking on the Elmira College Soaring Eagles in the team's final Empire 8 Conference matchup. Game time from Elmira, NY is set for 1pm.
