UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell to the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles by a score of 3-0 on Friday evening. 
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community), who anchored the back row with a match-high 10 digs and added two service aces. Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) paced the offense with seven kills, while Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) posted five kills and eight digs. Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) chipped in three kills apiece, and Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili) added two kills with a team-best two total blocks (one solo, one assist). Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) steered the attack with 12 assists and two aces; Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) added six helpers, and Erin Baldock (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) notched an ace.
 
Utica fell 25–19 in the opener after SUNY Brockport raced out to a 5–0 start highlighted by back-to-back aces and a kill. The Pioneers steadied with a 3–0 push capped by a Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) kill to get within 7–5, and kept trading sideouts to hang around late. Stanton's kill from Wright trimmed it to 23–18, and another Stanton termination made it 24–19 before a Jones kill closed the frame for Brockport.
 
Set two was a true tug-of-war. Utica grabbed the first two points, then led 4–2 after Bailey scored in transition. Brockport answered and nudged ahead, but the Pioneers kept it tight behind a Turner kill through the seam and steady sideout volleyball. A well-timed Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) service ace cut the margin to 21–20 and forced a reset, but a service error and a quick middle for the visitors rebuilt the cushion; after Utica staved off one set point at 23–21, Brockport took the stanza 25–21 on a  ace.
 
Brockport controlled the third, 25–13, using a mid-set burst and a serving run to break it open. After the visitors pushed to 19–10, Brockport landed aces at 20–10 and 22–10 to extend the gap. Utica grabbed late points on a Turner kill and a sideout, but a final rally error ended the night as Brockport sealed the sweep. 
 
Utica (8-15, 1-5 Empire 8) returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, October 18 in the team's annual Fight for the Cure match against SUNY Geneseo. Game time from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 1pm.