ONEONTA, NY – On Tuesday night, Hartwick women's volleyball forced a fifth set against the Utica College Pioneers at Lambros Arena. Senior Hannah Armstrong (Lansing, NY/Lansing) landed four of her season-best 22 kills in the deciding set to help propel the Hawks over the Pioneers, 3-2. They now stand at 5-6 on the season and 1-1 in the Empire 8. The visitors drop to 4-11 on the year and 0-1 in the conference.

Utica claimed the first two sets by the scores of 25-14 and 26-24. The Pioneers held Hartwick to negative hitting clips while registering a .150 hitting mark in the first and a .125 hitting for the second.

The Hawks owned much of the third set advantage holding the Pioneers to their lowest hitting percentage of the match, .034. The Hawks traded control at the 20-19 mark as the Pioneers used a 4-1 run to go up 23-21. Utica benefitted from two Hartwick errors and a kill from Brandi Blaszak to put them ahead. However, the Hawks would win the set running off four consecutive points to get them back in the match, 2-1.

Hartwick never trailed in the fourth set. They secured a 25-18 win to force the deciding set.

The Hawks won seven of the first nine points of the fifth set quickly forcing Utica to call for time. Out of the break, Hartwick would retain its dominance. Ultimately, the set would come down to the Hawks rallying off six straight points to hand them the match.

Junior Rosa Maun (Redstone, CO/Roaring Fork) and sophomore Rachel Jones (West Charlton, NY/Galway) contributed nine and eight kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Jamie Reidy (Elmira, NY/Horseheads) dished out 26 assists while also totaling 14 digs. Sophomore Paige Bailey (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) was the digs leader for 'Wick with 16, while senior Alyssa Zeitler (Chardon, OH/Berkshire) added 10.

Hartwick will wrap up its brief home stand hosting two matches this Saturday. Hartwick will battle conference opponents Alfred at 11 a.m. and Houghton at 4 p.m.