UTICA, NY - After a week-long hiatus, the Utica University volleyball team is set to open the 2025 conference slate this week. The team will make the short trip to clash with cross-town rival SUNY Poly on Wednesday, October 1 beginning at 7pm. The team will then return home to host the Russell Sage College Gators on Friday, October 3 beginning at 7pm on Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center. On Saturday, October 4, the team will travel to Oneonta, NY to take on the Hartwick Invitational, hosted by Hartwick College. Game one against the host is set for 11am, while game two against Alfred State is set for 1pm. 
 
Follow Along: Live video for Wednesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats can be found here. Live video for Friday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for both of Saturday's matches can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team dropped both of its matches on the second day of the Oswego Invitational, hosted by SUNY Oswego back on September 20. The Pioneers fell to the Western Connecticut State Wolves by a score of 3-0 in the first game of the day, before falling to the hosts by a score of 3-1 in the second game. Leading the way for the Pioneers was Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who tallied 10 kills while also chipping in 12 assists and 11 digs for a well-rounded performance. Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) and Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) followed with five kills apiece, while Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) added three. At the service line, Stanton and Turner each notched a pair of aces, with Jones adding one. Defensively, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the back row with a team-high 20 digs, followed by Stanton with 13 and Jones with 11. At the net, Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) led with a solo and an assist, while Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili) and Jones each added two block assists. Leading the way for the Pioneers in game two was Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) who tallied 16 kills in the contest, while Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) recorded 12 and Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchvile-Chili) nine. At the service line, Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) continued her dominance with another pair of service aces. On defense, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) was dominant, registering 27 digs, while Stanton recorded 16 and Bailey 12. At the netfront, Williams continued her tear with three blocks, while Jones and Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) each recorded a pair.
 
Where We Stand: Heading into the first week of conference play, the Pioneers currently sit at eighth place in the Empire 8 standings. As a team, the Pioneers have allowed the fourth lowest hitting percentage to opponents in the conference at .141. The Pioneers have also managed to rack up the third most kills in the conference with a total of 519 for an average of 10.18 kills per set. Defensively, the Pioneers are currently at the top of the conference in digs with 895 total digs, averaging 17.55 digs per set. 
 
The Wright Way: Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) has been a force on the defensive side of the ball for the Pioneers, so much so that Wright has found her way into national defensive rankings. The junior libero has racked up a total of 305 digs this season, and is averaging 5.87 digs per set. Both marks are not only good enough for the top of the conference leaderboard in both categories, but are good enough to slot in at ninth in the nation in total digs, and 13th in the nation in digs per set. 
 
Breaking Down Poly: The SUNY Poly Wildcats have posted a 6-7 record on the season heading into conference play. Leading the Wildcat offensive is Daniella Aluisio who has tallied a total of 141 kills this season, and Kassity Cruz who has totaled 114 kills this season. Grace Southwick has been solid from the service line for the Wildcats, totaling 31 service aces on the season. On the defensive side of the ball, Samantha Dee leads Poly with 197 digs this season, averaging 4.10 digs per set. At the netfront, Erica Mumbulo and Aluisio lead the Wildcats, with Mumbulo tallying 14 total blocks and Aluisio with 12. The Pioneers have been on a six match win streak against the Wildcats, with the Pioneers taking last season's matchup in sweeping fashion by a score of 3-0. 
 
Scouting Sage: The Russell Sage College Gators have posted a 5-6 record this season, and are 1-3 on the road this season. Leading the Gators' attack is Ashleigh Gerkman who has recorded 100 kills this season, averaging 2.86 kills per set this season. Aniyah Kelley is not too far behind with 88 kills on the season, only playing in two less matches than Gerkman. Emma Curry leads the Gators at the service line with a team high 22 service aces this season. Curry also leads the team on the defensive side of the ball, with 174 digs this season, averaging 4.14 digs per set. Last season, the Pioneers fell to the Gators in a competitive matchup despite the outcome, 3-0. 
 
Here's Hartwick: The Hartwick College Hawks have posted a 7-8 record this season and are set to square off against both the Gators and the Wildcats this week, prior to the team's matchup with the Pioneers. Leading the Hawks offense is Shelby Swartz and Staecia Silofau with Swartz recording 240 total kills this season and Silofau with 236. At the service line, Braelyn Hornick leads the Hawks with 41 service aces this season. Hornick also leads the team on defense with 240 digs this season, averaging 2.86 digs per set. Aaliyah Williams leads the Hawks at the netfront, recording 66 total blocks this season, with 14 solo and 52 assists. The Pioneers are looking for their first win since 2009 against the Hawks after falling last season by a score of 3-0. 
 
The Other Pioneers: The Alfred State College Pioneers have posted an 8-5 record this season and have yet to begin AMCC play. Leading Alfred State on the attack is Gloria Stem who has brought down 157 kills this season, averaging 3.34 kills per set. Alayna Tomlinson has also been a key piece of the Pioneer attack registering 128 kills this season, averaging just over three kills per set. At the service line, Gabriella Thurmon has been consistent, registering 37 service aces on the season. On defense, Ava Wickes leads Alfred State with 159 digs this season, averaging 3.31 digs per set. Erin Gregoire has been a statement piece of the Alfred State netfront defense, registering 23 total blocks this season with eight solo and 15 assists. Utica has not squared off against Alfred State since 2023, where Utica fell to Alfred State by a score of 3-1. 
 
Up Next: The Pioneers remain on the road, taking on another non-conference opponent in SUNY Cobleskill. Game time on Tuesday, October 7 is set for 7pm from Cobleskill, NY.