UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's volleyball team battled through five sets against Nazareth University on Friday evening but ultimately fell 3-2 at Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center. After dropping the opening set 25-19, the Pioneers responded with 25-22 and 25-21 victories before the Golden Flyers claimed the final two frames, 25-18 and 15-13.
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Utica offense with 10 kills while adding 11 digs, two service aces and two block assists.
Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) followed with nine kills and 18 digs, while
Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and
Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) contributed seven kills each. O'Brien was particularly efficient offensively, hitting .412 without committing an attack error on 17 attempts.
Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the Pioneer defense matching her second highest career mark, with a match-high 35 digs, while
Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) led the team at the net with seven block assists.
Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) distributed 16 assists and recorded three service aces, while
Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) added 12 assists.
The opening set featured several momentum swings as the two sides traded points throughout the early stages. With Nazareth holding a 12-10 advantage, Ancewicz delivered back-to-back service aces to spark a four-point Utica run, giving the Pioneers a 14-12 lead. However, the Golden Flyers responded with five consecutive points to reclaim control at 17-14. Utica pulled within one at 17-16 following a Nazareth attack error, but the visitors rattled off six unanswered points to extend their advantage to 23-16. The Pioneers collected three more points before Nazareth secured the opening frame, 25-19.
Utica came out strong in the second set, building an early 5-2 advantage behind several Nazareth attack errors. The Golden Flyers gradually worked their way back, eventually taking a 15-13 lead midway through the frame. The Pioneers answered with four consecutive points, highlighted by a kill from Williams, to move back in front 17-15. A block from Williams and Bailey helped Utica extend its advantage to 18-16 before Stanton and Hanba contributed kills down the stretch. With the Pioneers leading 24-22, Hanba delivered the set-winning kill to even the match at one set apiece.
The Pioneers carried that momentum into the third set, opening with three consecutive points, including a service ace from Ancewicz. Utica continued to apply pressure, using a service ace from Bailey and several Nazareth attack errors to establish a 12-6 advantage. The Golden Flyers trimmed the deficit to 16-14, but the Pioneers responded with another four-point run, highlighted by a Williams kill, to extend their lead to 20-14. Nazareth made a late push, cutting the Utica advantage to 23-20, but the Pioneers held firm. Following a Golden Flyers service error that brought Utica to set point, Jones recorded the finishing kill to secure the 25-21 victory and give the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage in the match.
Nazareth regained momentum in the fourth set, jumping out to an early 6-1 lead before extending its advantage to 11-5. Utica attempted to work its way back into the frame, receiving kills from O'Brien, Bailey and Hanba as the Pioneers cut the deficit to 13-10. However, the Golden Flyers maintained control, pushing their lead to 19-12. Utica made another push late in the set, using a kill from Bailey and a block from Williams and Herrington to pull within four at 21-17. Nazareth ultimately closed out the frame 25-18, forcing a decisive fifth set.
The fifth set delivered a tightly contested finish as Utica jumped ahead 2-0 behind kills from Stanton and O'Brien. After Nazareth rallied to take a 4-3 lead, the Pioneers responded with a pivotal stretch behind Wright at the service line. Wright recorded a service ace, Bailey added a kill and Williams teamed up with Hanba for a block as Utica scored five consecutive points to build a 9-4 advantage. The Golden Flyers answered with a run of their own, eventually leveling the score at 11-11. A Nazareth service error put Utica ahead 12-11 before O'Brien delivered a kill to give the Pioneers a 13-12 advantage. However, the visitors claimed the final three points of the match, completing the comeback with a 15-13 victory in the deciding frame.
The Pioneers (9-17, 5-5 Empire 8) return to Miga Court on Saturday, October 31, when they host St. John Fisher University at 12:00 PM for Senior Day.
Â
