Utica, NY – Freshman Isabella Cruz led the Roos with 19 digs and four service aces, but the SUNY Canton volleyball team dropped the first of three matches on the weekend to the Utica Pioneers after the hosts swept the Roos Friday, September 5 in Utica, N.Y.  

The Roos dropped the first set 25-17, got a little closer in set two dropping that one by a score of 25-21, and then battled hard in set three to take it to extra points, but fell 26-24 in the final set.

THE BASICS

• Result: Utica 3, SUNY Canton 0   
• Location: Harold T. Clark Athletic Center – Utica, NY
• Records: SUNY Canton (0-5) | Utica (3-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• Set one was tight early with a 4-4 game, but the Pioneers then rattled off five straight points to lead 9-4 and later got out ahead 14-6.
• The Roos scored four straight points highlighted by kills from Cruz and Lauren Park but could not get any closer than four the rest of the way, ultimately falling 25-17 in the opening set.
• SUNY Canton controlled the early part of the second set and after a kill from Emerson Coulter, the Roos took a 12-8 lead for their biggest advantage of the night.
• Utica then scored seven straight, although two kills from Abby Raven helped the Roos battle back where they eventually tied it at 17.
• The Pioneers went on another long run though, this time scoring six unanswered and SUNY Canton did not recover, dropping set two 25-21.
• In an entertaining third set, Utica started off ahead 3-0 and then 7-2.
• Nine of the next 11 points went the way of the Roos with Lauren Norman getting a couple service aces in that span for a 12-8 SUNY Canton lead.
• Utica recovered and tied the game at 16, but five of the next six points went the Roos way with Raven getting a service ace and a kill as SUNY Canton took a 21-17 lead.
• The Roos later led 23-21 after a kill by Brooke Hite, but the visitors could not convert in crunch time after Utica scored three straight points.
• Coulter's kill tied it at 24, but the Pioneers got the set and match victory with the next two points to win 3-0 against the Roos.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Both Coulter and Raven had six kills on the night while Hite added five and Park had four.
• Right behind Cruz in digs was sophomore libero Daycee Bane with 14. Nadia Frigon had seven digs and a team-high 11 assists. Norman finished with nine assists and two aces.
• For the Pioneers, Trinity Bailey led the way with 13 kills and Megan Wright went for 28 digs and three services aces to lead the hosts in both categories.
• Utica had a .174 hitting percentage on the night (38-17-121) which beat SUNY Canton's .074 (23-14-131). The Pioneers also had more digs (75-58) and blocks (4-1) while the Roos beat the home team in service aces 9-7.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Roos will take part in the SUNY Delhi Tri-Match on Saturday, September 6 with a two-match day, playing host Delhi at 11 a.m. and then Farmingdale State at 1 p.m.

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.