HOUGHTON, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell on the road to the Houghton University Highlanders by a score of 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. 
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), who brought down 14 kills, followed by Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) with nine and Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) with five. At the service line, Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) led the Pioneers with a pair of service aces. At the netfront, Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) put together a great outing, registering five total blocks with one solo and four assists, while Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili) and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) each registered a pair of block assists. On defense, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the back row with 35 digs, while Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) chipped in 16 and Bailey 15. 
 
The opening frame would see the Pioneers jump ahead to an early 5-2 lead before allowing the Highlanders to knot the set at five a piece. A five point run by the Pioneers would be enough to give Utica back the lead, before allowing a four point run to the Highlanders to put Houghton within one at 10-9. A six point run late in the set would be able to put the Highlanders away by a score of 25-19 and put the Pioneers ahead 1-0. 
 
The second set would see the momentum swing all the way in favor of the Highlanders, who would capitalize on seven straight errors by the Pioneers to take an 8-1 lead in the set early. Another large six point run by the Highlanders would put the Pioneers deeper into the deficit at 17-4 late. The Pioneers would attempt to crawl back into the set, but the efforts would not be enough as Houghton would walk away with the second set by a score of 25-11. 
 
In the third set, Houghton would get out to a 5-0 lead early before the Pioneers would cut the deficit to one at 8-7. The Pioneers would then allow a five point run to the Highlanders, pushing the deficit back to five at 13-7. A back and forth battle would ensue for the remainder of the set, with both teams trading blows, but the early deficit would be too much for the Pioneers to overcome, falling in the third frame by a score of 25-22. 
 
The final frame would see another tightly contested battle after the Pioneers would allow another early lead to the Highlanders. The teams would exchange blows before a four point run by the Highlanders would put the Pioneers down at 24-17. Utica would match with a five point run of its own, but it would not be enough as Houghton would walk away with the final score of 25-22. 
 
Utica (8-14, 1-4 Empire 8) returns to action on Friday, October 17 as the team hosts SUNY Brockport. Game time from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7pm.