ELMIRA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team took down the Elmira College Soaring Eagles in the team's final Empire 8 Conference matchup by a score of 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. 

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who slammed home 14 kills in the contest, followed by Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) who tallied nine and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) who recorded five. Lending a helping hand was Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who recorded 16 assists and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) who recorded 15. At the service line, Anthony recorded four aces, Bailey recorded three and Jones recorded two. On defense, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) recorded 24 digs, followed by Jones and Bailey with eight. At the net, Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) recorded eight total blocks, and both Jones and Anthony each recorded five total blocks. 

The opening frame would see the Pioneers jump out to an early 3-1 lead before allowing the Soaring Eagles four straight points to take the lead in the set at 5-3. The teams would then trade back to back points before both teams would put together multiple point runs to knot the set at 14 apiece. Utica would then allow the Soaring Eagles a five point run to get them ahead in the set at 19-14. The Pioneers would be able to cut the deficit to one before trading blows to knot the set once again at 22 each. The teams would again trade blows, but the Pioneers would prevail, taking the final three points courtesy of a kill from Bailey and a pair of Elmira attacking errors to put the first set away at 26-24 in favor of the Pioneers. 

The second set would see the Pioneers get out to an early 4-0 lead before allowing Elmira the next four points to knot the set at four a side. Utica would then take the next four points on a kill and ace from Bailey and a pair of attacking errors by Elmira to take the lead in the set at 8-4. Utica would maintain its momentum, growing its lead to 13-6 before allowing Elmira a seven point run to knot the set at 13 a side. The Pioneers would then put together the next five points on a pair of points from Ancewicz and a pair of aces from Anthony to take back the lead at 18-13. The teams would then trade 2 for 1 points and it would be the Pioneers that would walk away with the victory in the second frame 25-17. 

The third set would start with Elmira jumping ahead to an early 5-1 lead before being allowed another five point run to give the Soaring Eagles the lead at 10-3. The teams would trade blows before Utica would be able to cut into its deficit and string together a trio of points on a pair of errors by Elmira and an ace from Jones to bring the set to 15-12. Utica would be able to cut its deficit to one with another trio of points bought by kills from Hanba and Migliaccio before allowing a five point run by Elmira to bring the deficit back to six. Utica would be able to put together the next four points to bring the set to 22-20 in favor of Elmira, but would be unable to hold on as Elmira would take the third set 25-20. 

The final frame would see the teams trade blows before Elmira would be able to get out to a 6-5 lead early. Utica would then go on to take 12 of the next 13 points highlighted by a pair of kills from Bailey, a pair of aces from Anthony and a slew of attacking errors by the Soaring Eagles to put the Pioneers ahead in the set at 17-7. Utica would then be able to put together another multi-point run on a pair of kills from Bailey and a kill from Hanba to go ahead in the set at 24-12. Elmira would then go and take the next six points to try and cut into its deficit, but UTica would walk away with the victory 25-18. 

Utica (7-14, 3-8 Empire 8) will hit the road to take on the SUNY Delhi Broncos on Monday, November 4. Game time in Delhi, NY is set for 7pm.