ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University volleyball team fell to the St. John Fisher Cardinals in three sets 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 12 digs. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) paced the offense with eight kills and added eight digs, while Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) turned in four kills, nine digs, and two service aces. Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) steered the attack with 15 assists and an ace. Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) chipped in three kills and a block assist, Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) added two kills with a block assist, and Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili) tallied a kill. Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) contributed a late block assist.\
St. John Fisher took the opener 25–16 after edging ahead 2–0 before Utica leveled at 3–3 on a service error and a Turner ace. Fisher answered with a mid-set push to 13–6, but the Pioneers punched back with a 4–0 burst with an Anthony kill, a Bailey kill, then a Herrington and Anthony block, cutting it to 14–18. Fisher closed with a late ace and two kills to finish the frame.
Set two started fast for Utica at 2–0 behind a Jones service ace and an early Bailey kill, staying tight through 4–4. Fisher then pieced together a run to 20–11. The Pioneers clawed back with four straight, helped by a Turner service ace and back-to-back Fisher miscues to make it 20–15. Utica saved two set points to 24–17, but a final swing ended it 25–17.
Fisher controlled the third, 25–15, opening 3–0 and building the cushion to 20–12 with a serving run. Utica grabbed late points on a Bailey and O'Brien block and a kill from Bailey to fend off match point, but a final Fisher kill sealed the sweep.
Utica (10-16, 2-6 Empire 8) returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, October 25 as the team takes on the Nazareth University Golden Flyers. Game time from Rochester, NY is set for 4pm.