UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's volleyball team took down the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers by a score of 3-1 Tuesday night. 
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) who slammed home 14 kills in the contest, followed by Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) who notched nine and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with eight. Lending a helping hand with the offensive onslaught was Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who tallied 30 assists on the night and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) who tallied twelve. At the service line, Brennan and Wright each recorded two aces and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) recorded one. On defense, Cassandra Wagemann (Diamond Point, NY/Lake George) led the defensive efforts for the Pioneers, recording 15 digs, with Wright recording 13 and Liv Leider (Homestead, FL/Felix Varela) recording 12. At the net, Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) was a force to be reckoned with, tallying three blocks. Bailey recorded two blocks on the night as well. 
 
In the opening frame, both teams would trade blows to open the frame before knotting at three a side. Utica would then take back to back points on a kill from Bailey and an attacking misstep by the Tigers to go up in the set 5-3. The Pioneers would then string together a three point run on a service error by Cobleskill and then kills from Anthony and Wagemann to double their lead and go up in the set 8-4. Utica would then put together another multi point run to go on a kill from Leider, a kill from Jones, and a pair of aces from Brennan to bring the lead to 12-5. The teams would go on to trade sets of back to back points to bring the set to 16-13. Utica would then string together three points on kills from Brennan and Wright to bring the lead back to six at 19-13. The Pioneer offense was able to hold on and successfully overwhelm the Fighting Tigers, closing out the set at 25-17.
 
The second frame would see Cobleskill jump out to an early four point lead before the Pioneers were able to get on to board. The teams would then trade blows before the Pioneers would find their stride, putting together a five-point run on a slew of attacking errors by the Tigers and a massive block from Jones and Anthony to take the lead at 7-6. Once again both teams would trade blows before Utica would put together another multi-point run to go ahead in the set at 13-10 on a pair of kills from Wright and an ace from Jones. Cobleskill would make things interesting for the Pioneers late in the frame, putting together a six-point run to take back the lead at 21-20. Utica would be able to bring some offensive pressure and be able to hold the Tigers and close out the set 25-23. 
 
In the third set, both teams would trade blows before knotting at eight a side. Utica would then string together four points capitalizing on attacking errors by the Tigers to ger up in the set at 11-8. The Pioneers would then be able to put together another multi-point run highlighted by a pair of kills by Bailey to hold onto the lead at 15-10. Both teams would trade blows with Brennan bringing down the hammer on the Tigers before the Pioneers would find themselves on the wrong end of a four point run by the Tigers, followed by a six point run by the Tigers to put the set win within reach for Cobleskill. The Pioneers would attempt to hold them off, but to no avail as the Tigers would walk away with set three 26-24. 
 
The final frame was an offensive onslaught that would not stop coming for the Pioneers, with Utica only allowing nine points to the opposition in the entire frame. The teams would trade blows to open the frame with Cobleskill finding the lead at 4-3 before Trinity Bailey's (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) service game would bring mayhem to the Tiger defense. Serving an eight point run for the Pioneers was Bailey, a run that was highlighted by a trio of kills from Brennan, a kill from Anthony, and a slew of errors by the Tigers would put the Pioneers ahead in the set at an overwhelming 12-4 lead. Utica would then put together another multi-point run stringing together five points on kills from Brennan and Jones to put the lead up to 11 at 17-6. The Pioneers would then put together trios of points to completely run away with the set, and their largest margin of victory this season, 25-9. 
 
Utica (4-6, 0-0 Empire 8) opens conference play next week, taking on Empire 8 Conference newcomer SUNY Poly at home. Game time on Wednesday, October 2 is set for 7pm from the Clark Athletic Center.