ROCHESTER, NY - 'Wick volleyball crushed Utica in its final match of the Empire 8 Crossover at RIT on Sunday to salvage a split on the day. The Hawks end up 1-3 after the first of two E8 competitions with the Ithaca Crossover to following in late October.

Hartwick (4-12) started the day with a three-set loss to Stevens, 25-10, 25-15, 25-14 but recovered to take apart Utica in three straight sets, 25-16, 25-5, 25-13. It was the second time this season the Hawks have bested the Pioneers after downing them in four sets at the Elmira College Tournament on September 10th.

Maggie Kowalska (9), Maggie Majcher (9), Amethyst Holder (8), and Chrissy Dickinson (7) combined for 33 of Stevens' 36 kills against the Hawks in today's opener. Courtney Desmond (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) picked up six kills for Hartwick. Mickey Coons (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall), Kelly Sprengel (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill), and Christina Vitale (Port Jefferson Station, NY/St. John the Baptist) combined for 17 digs.

Desmond hit.368 with a match-best nine kills in the victory over the Pioneers. Lauren Mausert (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) contributed six kills and Rebecca Donahoe (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac), and Lauren Heiman (Dansville, NY/Wayland Cohocton) each had five. Vitale registered a match-high 14 digs and Shannon McGee (Cortland Manor, NY/Walter Panas) delivered 13 assists.

The Hawks play host Ithaca, RIT, St. John Fisher and Alfred in Ithaca next month and need to finish in the top four to secure an Empire 8 playoff berth. 'Wick returns to the court this Friday and Saturday at the Oneonta Red Dragon Invitational. The Hawks open with Keene State on Friday at 4 p.m.