UTICA, NY - The Utica University volleyball team completed day one of its regular season, going 1-1 on the first day of the Oneonta Invitational, hosted by SUNY Oneonta. The Pioneers fell in game one to the Red Dragons in a five set thriller by a score of 3-2, before sweeping Baruch College 3-0.
Game One: Utica 2, SUNY Oneonta, 3
Leading the way for the Pioneers in a five set thriller. was Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who registered 18 kills on the afternoon, followed by Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with 10 and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) with six. At the service line, Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) and Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Pioneers, each with a pair of aces, while Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) registered one of her own. On defense, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) shined with 25 digs, followed by L. Jones with 16. Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) was solid at the net registering a pair of blocks, while Anthony and Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) recorded one each.
The opening set would see the Red Dragons jump out to an early 8-2 lead. A kill by Anthony and an attacking error by Oneonta would put the Pioneers back in it only down by four at 9-5. Utica would be unable to overcome the deficit, allowing the Red Dragons to go ahead by as many as six throughout the remainder of the set. The early lead by the Red Dragons would be able to put the Pioneers away, taking the first set by a score of 25-18.
The second set would see the Pioneers exchange blows with Oneonta before allowing the Red Dragons to jump ahead by four at 8-4. Teams would continue to exchange blows with pairs of points before the Pioneers would be able to put together a four point run late, courtesy of kills from Turner and L. Jones, and a pair of attacking errors by the Red Dragons for the Pioneers' first lead of the contest at 18-17. The Pioneers would let the Red Dragons back in it after exchanging points to tie the set at 20 a side. A trio of points on a service error by Oneonta. An ace from Turner, and a kill by Bailey would be enough to put Oneonta on ice and take the second set 25-21.
The third frame would see the Red Dragons once again jump out to an early four-point lead, followed by a pair of points to make it 6-1 in favor of the Red Dragons early. The team's would exchange blows for the remainder of the set, before a lat six-point run by Oneonta would be enough to take the third set by a score of 25-17.
Set four would fall in favor of the Pioneers early after jumping out to a six point lead at 10-4. Utica would be able to hold onto the lead, showing an unwavering force on offense powered by Pioneer attackers. Despite a late push by Oneonta, the Pioneers would hold on and take the third set by a score of 25-20.
The final frame would see the Red Dragons once again jump out to an early lead at 7-2. Utica would be able to cut the deficit to two after a kill by Bailey, a set error, and an aace from L. Jones at 8-6. Utica would continue to push after a trio of points would keep the Pioneers in it at 10-12. A pair of attacking errors by Oneonta would see Utica beyond by one, but would be unable to complete the comeback and fall just short at 15-12.
Game Two: Utica, 3 Baruch, 0
Leading the Pioneers in game two of the afternoon was once again Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), who recorded another 10 kills on the afternoon, followed by Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) with seven, and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with five. At the service line, freshmen Erin Baldock (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) and Allison Navarra (North Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) shined, each recording a trio of aces. On defense, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) recorded another double digit outing with 13 digs, followed by Jones with eight and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) with five.
The opening frame would see the Bearcats get out to an 8-2 lead before the Pioneers would find their footing on offense, cutting the deficit in half with kills from Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) and Turner. Utica would put together another trio of points, holding strong at 11-14. The Pioneers would be able to cut the deficit to one before allowing the Bearcats another trio of points to bring the score of 20-16 in favor of Baruch. A five-point run late in the set on a pair of kills from Turner, a kill from Herrington, and a pair of attacking errors by the Bearcats would give the Pioneers their first lead of the set at 23-22. Teams would exchange the lead another two times before Utica would be able to out set one away by a score of 27-25.
The second set would be all gas no brakes for the Pioneers, jumping ahead early at 10-3. After exchanging blows, the Pioneers would be able to tack on another four-point run on kills from Ancewicz and Jones, as well as a service ace from Wright and a service error by Baruch to bring the score to 24-13 in favor of the Pioneers. Utica would allow a pair of points to Baruch before closing out the set on an attacking error by the Bearcats at 25-15.
Set three would see the Pioneers once again get out to a massive 10-4 lead after a slew of attacking errors by the Bearcats. Two pairs of points, including kills by Turner and Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) would put the Pioneers head by eight at 14-6. Another five-point run later, highlighted by a pair of kills from Turner, one from Jones, and a service ace by Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), the Pioneers would remain in the drivers seat at 19-7. Utica would only allow another five points to the Bearcats before putting the set, and the contest, away with a pair of kills by Bailey, 25-12.
Utica (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, August 30, as the team takes on day two of the Oneonta Invitational. Game one against Penn College is slated for 10am, with game two against Vassar College slated for 2pm.
