UTICA, NY – The Utica University women's volleyball team fell to the Hartwick College Hawks in four sets on Friday evening at Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center. After taking the opening set 25-22, the Pioneers dropped the next three frames 25-23, 25-20 and 25-15.
Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the Pioneers offensively with a team-high 13 kills on a .258 hitting percentage, adding 15 digs and two service aces for a double-double. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) followed with 12 kills and 13 digs, while Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) contributed nine kills and a service ace. Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the Utica defense with a match-high 28 digs, while Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) added 11. Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) split the setting duties, each recording 20 assists, with Jones also contributing a match-high three service aces. At the net, Kamari Davis (Utica, NY/Proctor) recorded four total blocks, including three solo stops.
The opening frame featured a strong start from the Pioneers, who overcame an early 2-0 deficit before taking control midway through the set. With Hartwick holding a narrow 6-5 advantage, Hanba stepped to the service line and helped spark a six-point run, recording two service aces as the Pioneers extended their lead to 12-6. Back-to-back kills from Rice later pushed the orange and blue ahead 15-7, giving Utica its largest lead of the frame. Hartwick responded with four unanswered points to cut the deficit to 16-12, but the Pioneers maintained their advantage down the stretch. Kills from Hanba and Davis helped Utica reach a 22-17 lead before the Hawks made one final push, closing the gap to 24-22. Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) delivered the set-clinching kill to secure the 25-22 opening-frame victory.
Hartwick jumped ahead 4-0 to begin the second set and maintained its advantage through the early stages, eventually building an 11-6 lead. The Pioneers battled back behind a pair of service aces from Jones, trimming the deficit to 12-11. The Hawks regained some breathing room with a 17-14 advantage, but Utica continued to chip away. Trailing 20-18, the Pioneers put together three consecutive points, highlighted by an O'Brien kill, to take their first lead of the frame at 21-20. Utica later moved ahead 22-21 following a Hartwick setting error, but the Hawks responded with three straight points to reach set point at 24-22. O'Brien kept the Pioneers alive with a kill before Hartwick closed out the frame, evening the match at one set apiece.
The Hawks opened the third set with three unanswered points before Utica worked its way back into contention. Trailing 8-5, the Pioneers used a Davis kill and a Hartwick attack error to pull within one at 8-7 before eventually evening the score at 10-10 on a Rice kill. The two sides continued to trade points, with Hanba bringing Utica even at 12-12. Hartwick then moved ahead 16-13, but the orange and blue answered with four consecutive points, including kills from Hanba and Bailey, to take a 17-16 lead. The Hawks responded with three straight points to regain control at 19-17. Utica remained within striking distance at 22-20, but Hartwick claimed the final three points, including back-to-back service aces to take the set 25-20 and move ahead 2-1 in the match.
Hartwick carried its momentum into the fourth frame, opening with a 4-1 advantage before extending its lead to 8-4. The Pioneers continued to battle, using kills from Wright and Rice to pull within two at 8-6. Utica later trimmed the deficit to 11-10 following a solo block from Davis, but the Hawks answered with three of the next four points to extend their advantage to 14-11. Hartwick continued to build its lead, using a five-point stretch to turn a 17-12 advantage into a 21-13 cushion. Herrington added a pair of kills late in the frame, but the Hawks closed out the set 25-15 to secure the four-set victory.
The Pioneers move to 8-13 on the season, and 4-2 in Empire 8 play. The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, October 17 as the team travels to Albany, NY for the Russell Sage Tri-Match. Game one against the hosts, Russell Sage is set for 12:00pm, with game two against St. Lawrence set to begin at 2:30pm.
