ONEONTA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team wrapped up the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragon Invitational on Saturday afternoon. The team fell to Oneonta 3-2 before taking down Mount Saint Mary in straight sets, 3-0. 
 
Oneonta 3, Utica 2
 
Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community), who led the team, and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) each slammed double digit kills in the match, while Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) brought in nine of her own. Lending a helping hand was Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who recorded 40 assists in the contest. On the defensive side of the ball, Wright and Jones each recorded over 20 digs, while Cassandra Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) nabbed 15. Migliaccio and Bailey each recorded two blocks. At the service line, Jones, Brennan, Wright, and Bailey each recorded two aces. 
 
The first set opened with a pair of points for Oneonta, followed by a kill from Wright to take the score to 2-1. Oneonta would then go on to score two more points on a Utica attack error and a kill by Sabrina Squicciarini. Utica would score on an Oneonta attack error before allowing Oneonta to go on a five point run to bring the score 9-2. Utica would score on a Bailey kill before allowing another five point run for the Red Dragons to bring the score to 14-3. The teams would then trade blows to bring the score within five, but the Oneonta offense remained stout and finished the set 25-18. 
 
The second frame the Pioneers found their stride and were able to generate more momentum. To begin the set, both teams would trade blows to knot the score at seven apiece. Utica would then go on a three point run on a pair of Oneonta errors and a kill from Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South). After again trading blows, a pair of kills from Bailey and an Oneonta attack error found the Pioneers up in the set 14-11. Utica would maintain the momentum throughout the rest of the set going on multi-point runs before closing out the set 25-18. 
 
To open the third set, both teams would trade blows, before Utica would allow the Red Dragons the opportunity to go on a 10-point run to bring the set 14-4 in favor of Oneonta. Utica would attempt to crawl back, but after trading blows, the Red Dragon offense overwhelmed the Pioneers, closing out the set 25-16. 
 
Utica would once again find its stride in to open the fifth frame, where momentum was hard to come by. Both teams would not be able to get ahead in the set by more than three points. A pair of Oneonta errors, and a kill from Bailey would put the Pioneers ahead in the set 23-21. To seal the deal, the Pioneers relied on a pair of kills from Brennan and Anthony to close out the set 25-22. 
 
The final frame would prove the toughest for the Pioneers as both teams were knotted at two sets apiece. After getting out to a 4-2 lead from a Migliaccio kill, a Brennan kill, and a service ace from Wright, both teams would battle back and forth before tying the set at seven. Oneonta would then go on a five-point run to take back the lead at 12-9. Both teams would once again trade blows, but the Pioneers would fall short at 15-13. 

Utica 3, Mount Saint Mary 0
 
Bailey and Wright would again prove pivotal for the Pioneers in the second game of the afternoon slamming eight kills apiece. Peyton Migliaccio (Suffern, NY/Suffern) would bring in seven. Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) would go on to lead the Pioneers in assists with 26. On defense, Cassandra Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) would make 13 digs and Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) would record 12. At the service line, Wright, Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug), and Jones would each record more than three aces. 
 
In the opening frame, both teams would trade blows to begin the set to knot the score at five a side. The Pioneers would then go on a six-point run on a Knights service error, a trio of aces from Brennan, a kill from Wright, and a Knights attack error to bring the score 13-6. The Pioneers would continue to overwhelm the Knights once again going on a nine-point run. A trio of Knights attack errors, kills from Bailey, Migliaccio, and Wright would be enough to put Utica ahead in the set 23-8. Utica would then go on to close out the set 25-10. 
 
The second set proved to the Pioneers that small is mighty after recording multiple three and four point runs. Utica opened the frame with a three-point run to go ahead 3-0. The Pioneers would then go on a four point run on a pair of service aces from Wagemann, a kill from Bailey, and a Knights attack error to go up in the set 8-3. Later in the set, a pair of kills from Brennan, and another from Bailey would put the Pioneers up 17-11. Utica would continue its momentum to take down Mount Saint Mary 25-17. 
 
To open the final frame, the Pioneers would go on a four-point run on a kill from Caitlyn Esposito (Haddam, CT/Haddam-Killingworth), a kill from Bailey, an ace from Jones, and a Knights attack error to go up in the set 4-0. Mount Saint Mary would go on a four-point run of its own to knot the score at four apiece. Both teams would trade blows, before the Knights found themselves up in the set 13-12. Utica would go on another four-point run on a pair of kills from Esposito, a Jones ace, and a Knights attack error to take back the lead at 15-13. The Pioneers would then completely overwhelm the Knights going on a nine-point run on five service aces from Wright, a trio of Knights attack errors, and a kill from Esposito, to close out the set 25-17. 
 
Utica (1-2, 0-0 Empire 8) hosts the team's annual First Responders Match to open the home slate on Saturday, September 7. Game time from the Clark Athletic Center is set for 12p.m.