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UTICA, NY – The Utica University women's volleyball team continued its unbeaten start to Empire 8 Conference play on Friday evening, sweeping the Houghton University Highlanders in straight sets (25-19, 25-10, 25-20) on Miga Court at the Clark Athletic Center. 

Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Pioneers' offensive attack with a match-high 21 kills on 47 attempts, committing just five errors for an impressive .340 hitting percentage. Bailey also contributed nine digs and three total blocks. Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) followed with nine kills, six digs and two service aces, while Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) added six kills, 10 digs, three total blocks and an ace. Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) anchored the Utica defense with a match-high 21 digs, adding four assists and two service aces. Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) split the setting duties, recording 18 and 15 assists, respectively. Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) made her presence felt at the net with five total blocks, including three solo stops, as the Pioneers finished with 10 team blocks. Utica finished the evening with 39 kills, 38 assists, 72 digs and six service aces, holding Houghton to just 20 kills and a -.024 hitting percentage. The Pioneers also held a 10-6 advantage in team blocks, controlling the net throughout the contest.

Houghton jumped out to an early 6-1 advantage in the opening frame before Utica began chipping away at the deficit. A service ace from Rice and Wright and back-to-back kills from Bailey helped the Pioneers pull even at 7-7. Utica continued to build momentum, taking its first lead at 8-7 following another Bailey kill. The two sides traded points throughout the middle portion of the set, with Houghton eventually drawing even at 16-16. From there, the Pioneers took control with a five-point scoring run highlighted by kills from Hanba and Bailey to establish a 21-16 advantage. Utica maintained its lead down the stretch, with Bailey adding two more kills before Rice delivered the final blow to secure the 25-19 opening-set victory.

The second frame began as a back-and-forth battle, with Houghton holding a narrow 6-5 advantage in the early going. Utica responded with a seven-point scoring run behind Hanba's serving, using a pair of Bailey kills and several Highlander attacking errors to take a commanding 12-6 lead. The Pioneers continued to apply pressure, extending their advantage to 14-9 before rattling off another eight consecutive points to push the score to 22-9. Hanba, Rice and O'Brien contributed kills during the run, while Utica's defense forced Houghton into multiple attacking errors. The Pioneers closed out the dominant second set with consecutive kills from Bailey and Hanba, taking a 25-10 victory and a 2-0 match lead. Utica held Houghton to a -.111 hitting percentage in the frame while hitting .257.

Houghton opened the third set with five consecutive points after Utica claimed the opening rally, establishing an early 6-1 lead. However, the Pioneers quickly erased the deficit with a six-point run highlighted by a Bailey kill and a Rice service ace to take the lead at 7-6. Utica continued its momentum, taking a 12-7 lead following consecutive kills from Bailey and Hanba and a service ace from Wright. The Highlanders battled to remain within striking distance, eventually trimming the deficit to just one point at 21-20 following back-to-back Utica attacking errors. With the match on the line, the Pioneers responded by scoring the final four points. After a Houghton attacking error, Bailey delivered three consecutive kills, all assisted by Herrington, to seal the 25-20 set victory and complete the three-set sweep.

With the win, the Pioneers improve to 8-11 on the season, and remain undefeated in Empire 8 play with a record of 4-0. The team returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, October 10 as the team takes on the Alfred University Saxons. Game time is set for 1pm from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center.