UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's volleyball team fell in a closely contested matchup to the Russell Sage College Gators by a score of 3-2 on Friday evening.
Leading the Pioneers was
Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), who became the seventh player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career assist mark, finishing this evening's contest with 14 assists along with three service aces, and assisting on a team high five blocks. On the Pioneer attack,
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) registered a team high 11 kills, as well as a pair of service aces, and a pair of block assists.
Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) also put forth a solid outing on both sides of the ball with seven kills and five block assists. At the service line,
Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) delivered another solid performance with three service aces and finishing the night with a team high 20 assists. On defense,
Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) managed 23 digs on the evening, while
Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) recorded 11 and Jones 10.
Utica got off to a hot start in the opening frame, quickly building a 7–3 lead with early kills from
Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and
Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham). The Pioneers extended the margin to 12–5 after an ace from Jones and a balanced attack that included contributions from
Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) and
Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker). However, despite the strong start, Utica struggled to close as Russell Sage put together a long serving run and capitalized on Pioneer errors. The Gators overtook the lead late and stole the first set, 25–19.
The Pioneers bounced back in dominant fashion in the second set. Ancewicz got things going from the service line with an ace, while O'Brien and Bailey took control at the net. Utica forced Sage into multiple errors and steadily grew its lead. Jones and
Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) provided big swings down the stretch, and Bailey closed out the frame with a kill as Utica cruised to a 25–15 win to even the match at 1–1.
The third set was a battle with six ties, but Utica held its composure. Bailey and O'Brien paced the offense early, while Jones delivered a timely ace. Sage briefly pulled ahead midway through, but the Pioneers rallied behind strong play from Bailey and Herrington to knot the score at 22. Utica finished strong, using kills from Jones and O'Brien to claim the set 25–23 and take a 2–1 match lead.
Looking to close it out, Utica again played with energy to start set four. Bailey and Jones gave the Pioneers a 14–8 cushion, and Utica appeared to be in control. But Sage fought back, using a service run and a few Pioneer miscues to tie things at 20–20. Despite a late ace from Ancewicz, Sage was able to swing the momentum and pulled out the frame 25–22, forcing a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Utica couldn't recapture its rhythm. Sage's serving applied pressure early, and while Stanton and Jones tried to keep the Pioneers within striking distance, Sage kept answering. The Gators put together another strong closing run, while Utica couldn't find enough offense late, dropping the set 15–8. Despite leading 2–1 in the match, the Pioneers fell in a five-set heartbreaker by a score of 3-2.
Utica (7-10, 1-1 Empire 8) returns to action on Saturday, October 4 as the team travels to Oneonta, NY take on the Hartwick Invitational. Game one against the hosts, Hartwick College, is slated for 11am, while game two against Alfred State College is slated for 1pm.
