ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University volleyball team took down the Nazareth Golden Flyers in four sets on Saturday afternoon. 

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne), who posted her second double digit kill outing this week with 18 kills, followed by Bailey who recorded 15 and Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) with seven. At the service line, Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) managed to chip in five service aces, while Herrington recorded three, and Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) who recorded two. At the netfront, a trio of Pioneers recorded four total blocks in Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South), Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili), and Jones. On defense, Wright anchored the back row with 22 digs, while Turner managed 19 and Jones with 17. 

The opening frame was a back-and-forth sprint. After Nazareth jumped ahead 3–0, the Pioneers punched back to a 7–5 edge behind a Herrington ace and a Bailey heater. Utica later stretched it to 18–15 and earned two set points at 24–22, but the Golden Flyers clawed into extras and swiped the opener 28–26.

The second set turned into a deuce-time classic. Nazareth built a 7–3 cushion before Utica leveled things at 10–10 on a Herrington ace and a flurry of kills. From there, the sides traded blows all the way to 28–28; Turner's sideout finish and a Nazareth attack error finally tipped it the Pioneers' way, 30–28.

The third frame belonged to Utica's middle stretch. Tied 11–11, the Pioneers uncorked a 6–1 run to 17–12 and never looked back. Bailey and Turner kept the pressure on in transition, and a late sideout string carried Utica to the tape, 25–20.

The final frame was the decisive knockout. After falling behind 0–2, Utica detonated a 9–0 burst on Lauren Jones' (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) serve, featuring four aces, to seize a 9–2 lead. The margin swelled to double digits at 16–5, and the Pioneers cruised from there; Turner hammered the clincher to close the match, 25–13.

Utica (11-16, 3-6 Empire 8) returns to action on Friday, October 31 as the team takes on the Keuka College Wolves. Game time from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7pm.