UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team is set for a pair of home matches this week. The team will host the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles on Friday, October 17 from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center beginning at 7pm, before hosting the SUNY Geneseo Knights on Saturday, October 18 in the team's annual Fight for the Cure Match, beginning at 1pm. 
 
Follow Along: Live video for both of this weekend's matchups can be found here, and live stats can be found here. 
 
Last Time Out: The 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
 
Found Gold Yet?: Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) is continuing her dominance on the defensive side of the ball, positioning herself as one of the best defenders in the nation. Wright currently sits in the top three in total digs, with a total of 464, only being six digs behind the national leader in that category. In digs per set average, Wright currently sits at 6.11 digs per set, landing in a tie for fifth place on the national leaderboard. If Wright continues to maintain this momentum, the Kansas native could be in the running for the statistical championship in either category. 
 
Getting it Done: Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) have been the backbone of the Pioneers' offense this season, with Jones playing both sides of the ball. Jones is currently second to Bailey on the team in kills, with a total of 143 this season. Aside from her own offensive production, Jones has managed 3.30 assists per set this season, lending a helping hand a total of 267 times. Jones is also one of the best on the team from the service line, currently tied with Bailey for a team leading 32 service aces on the season. On the defensive side of the ball, Jones has amassed 226 digs this season, averaging almost three digs per set. She has also been a statement piece of the Pioneer blocking corps with a total of 36 blocks this season, with eight solo and 33 assists. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) has continued to be a threat on offense for the Pioneers, amassing 243 kills on the season, averaging just over three kills per set. Her marks have been good enough to remain in the top five on the conference leaderboard all season, coming in third in total kills, and fifth in kills per set average. 
 
Breaking Down Brockport: The SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles have posted a 10-7 record this season and are 3-1 in Empire 8 play. As a team, the Golden Eagles have combined for a .151 hitting percentage, while averaging 15.42 points per set. Brockport has managed to allow the third lowest hitting percentage to opponents in the conference at .137 this season. Leading the Golden Eagle attack has been Alexis Sison and Luba Butcher who have recorded 122 and 121 kills on the season, respectively. Sison has the edge over Butcher in kills per set average at 2.44 while Butcher sits at 1.95. At the service line, Kaitlyn Jewett leads the team with 42 service aces, a mark that falls at second on the conference leaderboard. On the defensive side, Gianna Felipe leads the Golden Eagles with 215 digs this season, averaging just under 3.5 digs per set. At the netfront, Ana Parella leads Brockport with a total of 36 blocks this season, with 11 solo and 25 assists. Last season against the Golden Eagles, the Pioneers fell by a score of 3-1. 
 
Scouting Geneseo: The SUNY Geneseo Knights have posted a 10-8 record on the season, and are 3-1 in Empire 8 play. As a team, the Knights have combined for a .158 hitting percentage, while averaging the third most points per set in the conference at 14.14 points per set. The Knights have allowed a .161 hitting percentage to opponents, allowing 9.9 kills per set to their opposition this season. Leading the Knights attack has been Kate Barba and Sydney Leigh-Manuell, who are at the top of the team leaderboard in kills with 136 and 121 kills, respectively. At the service line, Zooey Gagnier leads the Knights with 34 service aces this season. Gagnier also leads the Knights on the defensive side of the ball, amassing 283 digs this season, averaging 4.29 digs per set. At the netfront, Ayla Pas'cal leads Geneseo with a total of 41 blocks on the season with 20 solo and 21 assists. Last season, the Pioneers fell to the Knights by a score of 3-0. 
 
Up Next: The Pioneers host their final non-conference opponent of the season in SUNY Delhi on Tuesday, October 21. Game time from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7pm.