BROCKPORT, NY – The Utica University women's volleyball team fell to SUNY Brockport in three sets on Saturday afternoon, 25-14, 25-12, 25-14.
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Utica offense with seven kills and six digs, while
Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) followed with four kills.
Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and
Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) each contributed three kills, with Hanba adding a solo block.
Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 14 digs and three assists, while
Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) dished out a team-high eight assists.
Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) added six assists, and
Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) recorded five digs.
Utica opened the match with a kill from Rice to take an early 1-0 lead, but Brockport responded with three consecutive points to move ahead 3-1. Hanba briefly interrupted the Golden Eagles' run with a kill before the hosts rattled off four straight points to extend their advantage to 7-2. Brockport continued to apply pressure, building a 14-5 lead despite kills from Bailey and Rice. The Pioneers found some momentum midway through the frame, putting together a four-point stretch to cut the deficit to 15-10. Hanba and Rice each contributed kills during the run, while a Brockport setting error helped Utica close the gap. However, the Golden Eagles responded with seven consecutive points, including three service aces, to extend their lead to 22-10. Williams and Bailey recorded kills in the closing stages, but Brockport secured the opening set, 25-14.
Jones opened the second frame with a service ace to give Utica an early advantage, but Brockport answered with five consecutive points to take a 5-1 lead. Bailey responded with back-to-back kills to bring the Pioneers within two at 6-4 before the Golden Eagles used another five-point run to stretch their advantage to 11-4. Utica continued to battle, with Bailey adding another kill before Williams delivered consecutive finishes to cut the deficit to 12-9. Stanton later recorded a kill to bring the Pioneers within three at 13-10, but Brockport maintained control, extending its lead to 20-11 behind a four-point run. A Brockport service error would briefly interrupt the Golden Eagles' momentum, but the hosts closed the set with five consecutive points to take a 25-12 victory and a two-set advantage.
Brockport carried its momentum into the final frame, jumping out to a 3-0 advantage before Utica responded with a four-point stretch to even the score at 5-5. Williams opened the rally with a kill, while Bailey added another finish to help erase the early deficit. The Golden Eagles regained control with four consecutive points to move ahead 9-5, but the Pioneers continued to fight. Hanba and Bailey recorded back-to-back kills to bring Utica within two at 9-7, while a Brockport service error later kept the Pioneers within striking distance at 10-8. Brockport gradually pulled away, using a four-point run to extend its advantage to 17-10. Utica added points behind a Hanba solo block and several Golden Eagles errors, but the hosts maintained their lead down the stretch. Brockport closed out the match with a 25-14 third-set victory.
Utica moves to 9-16 on the season, and are 5-4 in Empire 8 play. The team returns to action on Friday. October 30 as the team takes on Nazareth university at home. Game time from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7pm.
