ERIE, PA - The Utica University women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches Friday at the Penn State Behrend Invitational, falling to host Penn State Behrend, 3-0, before dropping a 3-1 decision to Westminster (Pa.) at the Junker Center.
Penn State Behrend 3, Utica 0
Utica fell to Penn State-Behrend by scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-18.
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Pioneers with eight kills, while Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) added six kills. Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) recorded four kills and eight assists, and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) contributed 12 assists. Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) led Utica defensively with 18 digs.
The Pioneers fell behind early in the opening frame before kills from Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) helped Utica stay within reach. Behrend led 20-15 late and finished the set 25-18.
Utica opened with a 1-0 deficit to start the second set, before Williams recorded a kill. Behrend built a 6-3 lead, but Utica answered with kills from Bailey and Hanba to remain within reach at 13-11 in favor of the hosts. Behrend eventually pulled away with a 7-0 run and took the set, 25-20.
Behrend scored the first four points of the final frame before Jones and Hanba recorded consecutive kills for Utica. Behrend led 10-5, and the Pioneers continued to battle before Behrend finished the set, 25-18.
Westminster 3, Utica 1
Utica fell to Westminster, 25-16, 25-19, 18-25 and 25-18.
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) paced the Pioneers with 12 kills, while Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) added nine kills. Wright anchored the defensive effort with 30 digs, while Ancewicz recorded 14 assists and Jones added nine assists.
Westminster opened the first frame with seven straight points, including two service aces. Rice and Hanba answered with kills, but Westminster maintained its advantage and took the set, 25-16.
Utica took a 2-1 lead on kills from Rice and Bailey in the second frame. Westminster responded and eventually built a 17-9 advantage. The Pioneers remained within reach late, climbing back to 24-19 but Westminster took the set, 25-19.
Westminster scored first on a service ace in the third set, but Utica answered with kills from Mackenzie O'Brien (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and Bailey. The Pioneers took a 5-4 lead and later led 22-14 following a late 5-0 run. Rice recorded the final kill as Utica won the third frame, 25-18.
Westminster took an early 4-1 lead in the final set and extended it to 10-2. Utica battled back to tie the set at 10-10 on an 8-0 run highlighted by three consecutive Bailey kills, but Westminster regained the lead with a 5-0 run late and closed the match, 25-18.
The Pioneers move to 1-6 (0-0 Empire 8) on the season, and return to action tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 as the team takes on day two of the PSB Invitational. Game one against Thiel College is set for 11am from Erie, PA.Â
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