UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team earned its first Empire 8 Conference win this evening as the Pioneers swept the SUNY Poly Wildcats by a score of 3-0 on Wednesday evening.
Leading the way for the Pioneers was
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who registered 11 kills on the evening, followed by
Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) who recorded 10 kills and an impressive .533 hitting percentage in the contest.
Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) followed close behind with eight. At the service line,
Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) shined with four service aces, followed by Bailey and Stanton who each recorded a pair. On the defensive side,
Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) was stout with a team high 26 digs, followed by Jones with nine and Stanton with eight.
The opening frame would see a back and forth battle between the two teams, with both teams knotting the score at eight a piece. A four point run by the Pioneers would put them ahead at 14-12, but it would be a short lived lead as Poly would take it back at 16-15. Another four point run by the Pioneers, and three pairs of points would be enough to put the Wildcats away in set one by a score of 25-19.
The middle frame would see the Pioneers jump ahead to an early 5-3 lead. Poly would be able to cut the deficit and eventually knot the score at 8-8. The Pioneers would be able to jump ahead by three, and be able to hold on with a four point run late in the set, taking the middle frame by a score of 25-22.
The final set would see a back and forth battle between the two teams before the Pioneers would put together a massive nine point run to put Utica ahead in the set at 19-9. Despite giving up a few points before exchanging blows with the Wildcats, the Pioneers would hold on and walk away with the win at 25-18.
Utica (7-9, 1-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Friday, October 3 as the team hosts the Russell Sage College Gators. Game time from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7pm.
