UTICA, NY – The Utica University women's volleyball team battled back from a two-set deficit to force a decisive fifth set but ultimately fell to the Alfred University Saxons, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium. Alfred took the opening two sets, 25-20 and 25-23, before Utica responded with consecutive 25-23 victories. The Saxons claimed the deciding set, 15-12, to secure the conference win.
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Pioneers offensively with a match-high 18 kills for Utica, hitting .239 while adding 12 digs, four block assists and one service ace.
Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) followed with 11 kills and two service aces, while
Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) contributed nine kills and four digs.
Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) recorded six kills on a team-best .429 hitting percentage, along with 16 assists and two block assists.
Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) paced the Pioneers with 20 assists, while
Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the defensive effort with a match-high 32 digs and three service aces. As a team, Utica totaled 53 kills, 74 digs, eight service aces and seven total blocks.
Alfred jumped out to an early 10-2 advantage behind a strong offensive start. Utica responded with four consecutive points, highlighted by kills from Hanba, Stanton and Bailey, to cut the deficit to 10-6. The Saxons maintained control through the middle of the frame, extending their lead to 20-11 before the Pioneers attempted a late comeback. Trailing 24-16, Utica rattled off four straight points, including back-to-back kills from Herrington, to pull within 24-20. However, a kill from Alfred closed out the opening set, 25-20.
Utica opened the second frame with an ace from Jones and a kill from Bailey to take an early 3-1 lead. Alfred answered with a six-point run to move ahead 10-4, forcing the Pioneers to battle from behind once again. Trailing 17-13, Wright sparked a four-point Utica run from the service line, recording three aces while Bailey added a kill to even the score at 17-17. The teams continued trading points down the stretch, with a Bailey service ace giving Utica a 21-20 advantage. Alfred regained the lead, but kills from Herrington and
Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) helped the Pioneers pull even at 23-23. The Saxons responded with consecutive kills to take the second set, 25-23.
Facing a two-set deficit, the Pioneers came out strong in the third, opening with kills from Stanton and Hanba to establish an early lead. The teams traded points throughout the opening stages before Utica created separation with a four-point stretch that pushed its advantage to 16-12. Bailey helped keep the offense moving with several timely kills, while the Pioneers extended their lead to 20-15 on a kill from
Kamari Davis (Utica, NY/Proctor). Alfred fought back late, scoring four consecutive points to trim Utica's lead to 24-23. However, Hanba delivered the set-clinching kill to secure a 25-23 victory and keep the Pioneers alive.
Alfred carried momentum into the fourth set, jumping ahead 5-2 before Utica responded with four consecutive points, including back-to-back kills from Bailey, to take a 6-5 lead. The Saxons regained control at 12-8, but the Pioneers answered with a dominant nine-point scoring run behind the serving of Herrington. During the stretch, Stanton recorded a kill and a solo block, while Herrington added a service ace to put Utica ahead 17-12. Alfred battled back to tie the frame at 17-17 before eventually taking a 23-21 lead. With their backs against the wall, the Pioneers delivered four unanswered points, beginning with an Alfred attack error and followed by consecutive kills from Stanton. Another Saxon attack error sealed the 25-23 win, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
Alfred established an early 5-1 advantage in the final frame, using back-to-back service aces to create separation. The Saxons maintained their lead and held a 9-5 advantage before Utica mounted another comeback. Four consecutive Alfred attack errors allowed the Pioneers to take the lead at 10-9, setting up a tense finish. The teams traded points, with a Bailey kill tying the frame at 11-11 and a Hanba kill bringing Utica even again at 12-12. However, Alfred closed the match with three unanswered points, including a kill and a match-ending service ace, to claim the fifth set, 15-12.
Utica moves to 8-12 on the season and 4-1 in Empire 8 play. The team returns to action on Friday. October 16 as the team welcomes Hartwick College to Miga Court for the team's annual Fight for the Cure Match. Game time is set for 7pm.
