ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY - The Utica University volleyball team split it's Saturday afternoon slate, taking down Bard College by a score of 3-1, before falling to Hunter College in the second game by a score of 3-2. 
 
Game One: Utica 3, Bard 1
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), who hammered down 20 kills, followed by Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with six and Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) with four. Lending a helping hand on the offensive attack was Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn), who tallied 19 assists, while Jones added 14. At the service line, Jones was sharp with four service aces, while Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) chipped in three and Bailey, Turner, and Erin Baldock (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) each recorded one. On the defensive side, Wright anchored the back row with 24 digs, while Bailey added seven. At the net, Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) led the way with a solo block and an assist, while Bailey and Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) each contributed to the front-line effort.
 
The opening set saw the Pioneers explode out of the gate behind kills from Turner and Anthony, quickly building a 5-0 lead. Wright followed with a service ace to keep the momentum rolling before Jones added another ace to put Utica firmly in control at 10-4. Bailey was a force at the net throughout the frame, registering multiple kills, while Jones sealed the deal late with a service ace to secure a 25-17 first-set win.
 
The second set was a back-and-forth affair that featured 10 ties and three lead changes. Bailey and Jones provided steady offense, while Turner and Ancewicz connected for key points to swing momentum in Utica's favor midway through the frame. Bard rallied to keep things close, but Wright and Jones delivered kills in the closing stretch before Bailey hammered down back-to-back points to finish off the set, 25-20.
 
Bard refused to go away in the third, taking advantage of Utica errors and riding a string of service aces to build a cushion. Although Bailey and Jones tried to rally the Pioneers late, but Bard held firm to claim the set, 25-18, forcing a fourth frame.
 
The decisive fourth set was the most competitive of the day, featuring eight ties and four lead changes. Wright sparked Utica early with a service ace, while Bailey delivered clutch kills to keep the Pioneers within striking distance. Jones came alive late, combining with Bailey for back-to-back kills before O'Brien put her stamp on the match with a critical block at the net. Bailey closed it out with her 20th kill of the afternoon, sealing the set 25-21 and the 3-1 match victory for Utica.
 
Game Two: Utica 2, Hunter 3
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), who put down a team-high 19 kills while hitting .333. Kendall Turner (Huber Heights, OH/Wayne) followed with 14 kills, and Lauren Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) added seven. Helping fuel the offensive attack was Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn), who handed out 27 assists, while Jones chipped in with 16. At the service line, Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) was sharp with three aces, while Ancewicz, Bailey, Jones, and Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) each tacked on one. On the defensive side, Wright anchored the back row with a match-high 34 digs, while Bailey and Ancewicz each added 11. At the net, Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and Bailey combined for three block assists apiece, while Jada Anthony (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South) and Jones also contributed to the block totals.
 
The opening frame saw both sides trading points before Utica used a three-point run, capped off by a Bailey kill and an O'Brien ace, to push ahead 20-17. The Hawks, however, clawed back with a pair of kills and a service ace to even the set at 24-24, before putting away back-to-back kills to claim the opener 26-24.
 
In the second set, Utica responded with poise, jumping ahead by four early. The Pioneers would be able to hold onto the lead for the majority of the set, before Bard took the lead back at 21-20. The Pioneers would then go on a five point run to put the set away by a score of 25-21. 
 
The middle frame would see Utica jump ahead to a 10-4 lead before being able to grow the lead to seven at 15-8. A nine point run by Hunter would give the Hawks the lead at 17-15 before a three point run by the Pioneers would give the lead back to Utica at 18-17. Both teams would be able to string together points, with the Pioneers taking the lead back at 24-20. Utica would be unab;e to hold on as a six point Hunter run would give the Hawks the middle frame by a score of 26-24. 
 
The Pioneers would open the fourth frame with a 9-4 lead before growing to 17-10 in the middle of the frame. The Pioneer offense would continue to fire on all cylinders, with the final seven Pioneer points coming off the attack to take the set at 25-17. 
 
In the final frame, Utica jumped out early behind Wright's serving and a Bailey kill to go up 5-2, but Hunter responded with a five-point rally to flip the score to 7-5. The Hawks built their lead to 13-8 before the Pioneers mounted a comeback, to cut the deficit to 14-12. The rally fell just short, as Hunter closed the door with the final point to take the decisive set 15-12 and the match 3-2.
 
Utica (3-3, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Wednesday, September 10 as the team travels to North Adams, MA to take on the MCLA Trailblazers. Game time is set for 6pm.