GENESEO, NY – The Utica University women's volleyball team fell to SUNY Geneseo in three sets on Friday evening, 25-22, 25-17, 25-12.
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Utica offense with 10 kills and six digs, while Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) followed with five kills and six digs. Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the defensive effort with a match-high 25 digs, while Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) added 10 digs and eight assists. Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) dished out a team-high 11 assists, and Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) recorded four service aces.
Utica came out strong in the opening frame, using an early four-point run to take a 5-1 advantage. Stanton sparked the stretch with a service ace, while Hanba contributed a kill and teamed up with Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) for a block. Geneseo responded with four consecutive points to even the score at 6-6, but the Pioneers regained control behind kills from Stanton, Bailey and Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) to build a 10-7 lead. The Knights answered with five straight points to move ahead 12-10 before extending their advantage to 17-13. Utica continued to battle, with Bailey and Williams contributing kills to keep the Pioneers within striking distance. Trailing 21-17, Utica put together a five-point run behind a pair of Stanton kills and two Geneseo errors to tie the frame at 21-21. The teams traded points to reach another tie at 22-22, but the Knights captured the final three points to claim the opening set, 25-22.
The second frame opened with both sides exchanging points as Utica and Geneseo battled through several early ties. Hanba and O'Brien each contributed kills before Bailey recorded back-to-back finishes to give the Pioneers a 7-5 advantage. The Knights responded with three consecutive points to regain the lead at 8-7 before gradually building a 12-9 edge. Utica remained within reach as Bailey and O'Brien added kills, but Geneseo used a five-point run to extend its lead from 13-11 to 18-11. The Pioneers responded with a spark from the service line as Stanton delivered three consecutive aces, cutting the deficit to 18-15. Bailey added another kill to bring Utica within three at 19-16, but the Knights answered with five straight points to reach set point at 24-16. A Geneseo service error gave Utica one final point before the hosts closed out the frame, 25-17.
Geneseo established an early advantage in the final frame, scoring five consecutive points after a 1-1 tie to move ahead 6-1. Bailey ended the run with a kill, but the Knights continued to apply pressure, extending their lead to 9-2 behind consecutive service aces. Utica looked to generate momentum through its offense as Hanba and Bailey recorded kills to bring the score to 9-4. Williams and Herrington later added kills, while Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) contributed two finishes during the middle stages of the set. However, Geneseo maintained control, using another four-point run to extend its advantage to 19-9. The Pioneers added late points behind a pair of Geneseo errors and a Hanba kill, but the Knights closed the match with a 25-12 third-set victory.
The Pioneers move to 9-15 overall and 5-3 in Empire 8 play. The team returns to action on Saturday, October 24, as the team takes on SUNY Brockport. Start time from Brockport, NY is set for 1pm.
