UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team is set for a full week of road matches this week. The team travels on Tuesday, October 7 to take on SUNY Cobleskill beginning at 7pm from Cobleskill, NY. The team will then travel to take on Alfred University on Friday, October 10 beginning at 7pm in Alfred, NY. The Pioneers will conclude the week by visiting Houghton University on Saturday, October 11 beginning at 2pm.
 
Follow Along: Live video for Tuesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Friday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Saturday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team fell in both of it's matches at the Hartwick Invitational, hosted by Hartwick College. The Pioneers fell to the ghosts by a score of 3-0 in the first game of the day, before falling to the Alfred State College Pioneers by a score of 3-1 in the second game. Leading the way for the Pioneers in game one was Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community), who became just the seventh player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career digs milestone. Wright finished the contest tied with a team high 13 digs along with Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham). Jones led the Pioneer offense with four kills, while Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) each had three. At the service line, Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Erin Baldock (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) each recorded a pair of aces. O'Brien was a key piece of the Pioneers' netfront presence with five block assists while Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) nabbed two. Leading the Pioneers in game two was Bailey who recorded 11 kills, followed by Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) with seven and Jones with four. At the service line, Bailey was dominant recording six service aces, followed by Jones with two. At the netfront, Jones was a key piece of the Pioneer defense, recording five block assists, while Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili) recorded three. On defense, Wright managed 12 digs, while Bailey recorded 10 and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) recorded seven.
 
Athletes of the Week: Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) swept the Pioneer Athletes of the Week for their milestone efforts last week. Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) became the seventh player in Utica Volleyball history to eclipse the 1,000 career assist mark on Friday evening. Jones finished the week with a total of 46 assists and averaged 3.06 assists per set. Jones was a key piece all around for the Pioneers with six service aces, as well as a total of 11 block assists, with 37 digs. Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) became the seventh player in Utica Volleyball history to eclipse the 1,000 career dig mark on Saturday afternoon. Wright finished the week with a total of 78 digs, averaging six digs per set. Wright was also dominant in the Pioneers' serve receive with a .926 reception percentage.
 
Defensive Powerhouse: Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) is currently one of the best defenders in the nation, sitting in fifth place on the NCAA leaderboard in digs per set average with 6.02. Wright sits not far behind the national leader, only being 1.36 digs per set away from taking the top spot on the national leaderboard. Wright's 6.02 digs per set average has propelled the Pioneers to a conference leading 16.89 digs per set as a team, with a team total of 1,177 digs this season. Wright continues to sit at the top of the conference in digs per set, and total digs, with 379 total digs this season. 
 
Freshman Standouts: Freshman Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) put together a breakout week for the Pioneers as the outside hitter managed a .196 hitting percentage over four games last week with 22 and an average of 1.69 kills per set. Stanton also managed three service aces with 20 digs. Against SUNY Poly, Stanton posted a .533 hitting percentage with 10 kills and two service aces. Through only 49 sets played this season, Stanton has registered 55 kills with 10 service aces. Freshman Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) has continued to also make her presence known this season with a total of 95 kills, 17 service aces, and 135 digs. 
 
She Can Do It All: Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) has been everywhere for the Pioneers this season. Playing in every set this season, Jones has recorded 131 kills, which puts her in second place on the team leaderboard for an average of just under two kills per set. Jones has also lent a helping hand on most of the Pioneer offensive efforts this season with a total of 210 assists, for an average of three assists per set. She has also been one of the Pioneers' most dominant servers, registering 26 total service aces this season. On the defensive side of the ball, Jones has been able to grab 189 digs, averaging just under three digs per set, with a total of 33 blocks with two solo blocks and 31 assists. 
 
Scouting Cobleskill: The SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers have posted a 2-10 record this season and are 1-1 in NAC play. Leading the Tigers offense has been Emma Hinze who has recorded 72 kills this season and Hallie Gasner who has been not far behind Hinze with 65 kills this season. At the service line, Baylee Kirschberg has been the Tigers' best server with 19 service aces on the season. On the defensive side, Kathleen Smart has been the defensive workhorse for Cobleskill, registering 104 digs on the season, averaging just over three digs per set. At the netfront, Hinze has been able to register 22 total blocks this season, with seven solo and 15 assists. All time against the Tigers, the Pioneers are 15-3, and the Pioneers took last season's matchup by a score of 3-1. 
 
A Look at Alfred: The Alfred University Saxons have posted an 8-11 record this season, and are 2-1 in Empire 8 play. Leading the Saxons offense this season is Taylor Malone who has eclipsed the 200 kill mark on the season and is averaging over 3.2 kills per set. Carleigh Santavy has registered 165 kills this season for the Saxons, averaging 2.70 kills per set. At the service line, Meegan Peterson has recorded a team leading 40 service aces, which is tied for the conference lead. On the defensive side of the ball, Madalynn McGowan and Delaney Sims lead the Saxons with 187 and 177 total digs, respectively. At the netfront, Cara Bratthauar leads the Saxons with 27 total blocks this season, with eight solo blocks and 18 block assists. All time against Alfred, the Pioneers have posted an 11-14 record, with the Pioneers falling by a score of 3-1 in last season's matchup. 
 
Breaking Down Houghton: The Houghton University Highlanders have posted a 9-6 record and currently sit undefeated in Empire 8 play with a record of 3-0. Leading the Highlander offense is Alexa Belanger who has recorded 175 kills this season, and is averaging just over three kills per set. Emma Cole has also been a key piece of the Highlander offense, registering 140 kills on the season. At the service line, Logan Baer has recorded a team leading 25 service aces on the season. On defense, Belanger leads the Highlanders with 173 digs this season, averaging just over three digs per set. Natalie Rivera is not too far behind Belanger, with 167 total digs this season, averaging just under four digs per set. At the netfront, Cole leads the Highlanders with a total of 57 blocks this season, with 19 solo and 38 assists, which is good enough for the lead in the Empire 8. Last season, the Pioneers fell to the Highlanders by a score of 3-0. 
 
Up Next: The Pioneers return home to host the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles. Game time on Friday, October 17 is set for 7pm from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center.