DELHI, NY - The Utica University volleyball team took down the SUNY Delhi Broncos in non-conference action by a score of 3-1 on Monday evening.
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) who slammed home 13 kills in the contest, followed by Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with 12 and Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) who recorded nine. Dishing out the Pioneer assists was Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with 18 and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) with 16. At the service line, Jones led the team with four service aces while Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South), Bailey, Hanba, O'Brien, and Ancewicz each recorded one ace. On defense, Jones led the team with 25 digs, followed by Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) with 22. At the net, Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) recorded five total blocks, followed by Hanba with two, while Bailey, Ancewicz, and O'Brien each recorded one.
The opening frame would prove to be highly contested, with the Pioneers jumping out to an early 3-1 lead before allowing a four point run by the Broncos to allow the lead at 5-3. Delhi would follow that up with another four point run to go ahead in the set at 9-4. Utica would begin to cut into the deficit by taking the next two points followed by a three point run to bring the Broncos' lead to one at 10-9. Delhi would put together the next four points to put the lead back up to five, with the Pioneers fighting to cut the deficit, taking three of the next four points to cut the deficit to three at 15-12. Utica would then be able to put together a four point run on a kill and an ace from Bailey, a kill from O'Brien and a Broncos attacking error to once again come within one of Delhi at 17-16. Playing from behind, the Pioneers would trade blows with the Broncos, working themselves back into the lead at 24-23. The teams would continue to trade blows before Utica would put together a trio of points on a kill from Hanba, an ace from Ancewicz and a bad Bronco set to take the first set, 29-27.
The second set would see the Pioneers jump out to an early 4-0 lead before allowing the Broncos on the board at 4-2. Utica would then take the next three points on a kill from O'Brien, and capitalize on a Delhi error to grow the lead in the set at 7-2. The Pioneers would then go on another multi-point run on a pair of kills from Hanba, a kill from Anthony, and another attacking error to bring the Pioneer lead to 11-3. The Broncos would attempt to get back into the set, but another five point run late on a kill from Migliaccio, an ace from Jones, and a slew of errors by the Broncos would be enough to send the Pioneers into a 2-0 set score lead, 25-14.
The third set would see both teams trade pairs of points, allowing the Pioneers the lead at 4-2. Delhi would then take the next four points, before Utica would knot the set at six a side on a kill from Hanba and a Delhi error. The teams would trade blows before the Broncos would be able to take the lead at 11-8. Utica would then find itself behind on the set by five, but a four point run on a kill from Bailey, a kill from Jones, and a pair of attacking errors by the Broncos would bring the Pioneers within one at 19-18. Utica would be unable to hold on, allowing a five point Bronco run to end the set with a score of 25-19.
The final frame would see the Pioneers jump out to an early 4-1 lead before putting together a four point run on a pair of kills each from Hanba and O'Brien to go ahead in the set at 8-2. Utica would continue to grow its lead with another multi point run on a pair of kills from Bailey and a pair of Broncos errors to go ahead in the set at 13-6. The Pioneers would maintain the offensive momentum, and be able to put the set away and come home with the victory, 25-14.
Utica (8-14, 3-8 Empire 8) returns to action this weekend, taking on the Vassar Tri-Match featuring the Brewers and the United States Merchant Marine Academy Mariners. Game one against the Mariners is set for 1pm on Saturday, November 9.
