POUCHKEEPSIE, NY - The Utica University volleyball team split the Vassar Quad this afternoon, hosted by Vassar College. The Pioneers took game one in sweeping fashion, defeating the SUNY Delhi Broncos by a score of 3-0, before falling to the host Vassar by a score of 3-0. 
 
Game One: Utica, 3 SUNY Delhi, 0
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers in game one was Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who recorded 12 kills, while Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) recorded six, followed by Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with four. At the service line Jones led the Pioneers with three service aces, while Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) each nabbed a pair. Lending a helping hand with the Pioneer offense was Ancewicz who dished out a team with 12 assists, while Jones recorded nine. On defense, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the back row with 13 digs, followed by Jones with eight and Turner with six. At the netfront, Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili) led the Pioneers by tallying two block assists
 
The opening frame would see the Pioneers with a two point lead early at 6-4 before exchanging blows with the Broncos, holding the lead to 10-9. The Broncos would put together a four point run before the Pioneers would be able to get a pair of points back with SUNY Delhi taking the lead at 16-12. The Pioneers would then battle back with a four point run of their own sparked by a pair of kills by Bailey and a pair of errors by the Broncos, knotting the set at 17 a piece. Both teams would exchange blows before a four point Pioneer run would put the set away by a score of 25-23. 
 
The second set would see the Pioneers jump out to an 8-2 lead early after a pair of kills by Bailey and stellar serving from Wright. A pair of massive runs by the Pioneers would put Utica ahead 17-5 late in the second frame. The Broncos would attempt to claw back into the set, but the Pioneers would prevail, taking the second set by a score of 25-16. 
 
The final set would see a momentum change, this time in favor of the Broncos, with Delhi getting out to a 4-1 lead early. A four point run by the Pioneers on kills from Williams and Jones would allow the Pioneers to make up the deficit and take the lead at 12-10. Utica would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the set, not letting the Broncos get within one, and would close it out with a score of 25-23. 
 
Game Two: Utica, 0 Vassar 3
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers in game two was once again Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with seven kills, followed by Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with three and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) with two. At the service line, Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) continued her dominance with a team high two service aces. On defense, Wright managed 10 digs, while Jones nabbed seven. At the netfront, O'Brien shined once again with two block assists. 
 
The opening frame would see Vassar get out to a 6-1 lead after capitalizing on Pioneer attacking errors. Utica would fall behind by as many as 11 in the set at 17-6 before clawing out of the deficit and coming within five of the Brewers late in the set. The Pioneers momentum would not be enough to overcome the deficit as the Brewers would walk away with the first set 25-16. 
 
The second set would open with four point runs by both teams to knot the score early. Vassar would get ahead by five at 11-6, but the Pioneers would cut the deficit to three. A three and six point run for the Brewers would put the Pioneers down by 11 at 21-10 late in the set. The Pioneers would once again attempt to crawl out of the hole, but would be unable as the Brewers would come away with set two 25-17. 
 
The third set would see the Pioneers win the back and forth battle with the Brewers to get ahead in the set early at 7-6. A four point run by Vassar would give the Brewers the edge at 10-7. A seven point run from Vassar would put the Pioneers down 17-8 late in the set. Another group of seven points by the Brewers would put the Pioneers away 25-11. 
 
Utica (6-4, 0-0 Empire 8) returns home to take on the Union College Garnet Chargers in the team's annual First Responders Match. Game time on Wednesday, September 17 is set for 7pm on Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center.