UTICA, N.Y. – Women's volleyball rallied from an opening-set loss to earn a 3-1 Empire 8 victory over Utica at the Clark Athletic Center. The Hawks dropped the first set 25-22, before winning three straight 25-23, 25-20, and 25-15 to secure the road win.
Lucille Walker (Ithaca, N.Y.) led Hartwick's offense with 19 kills, hitting a .459, while
Isabella Gracias (Oneonta, N.Y.) added 17 kills and a team high 7 block assists.
Thylia Keoviengsamay (Rome, N.Y.) paced the Hawks with 43 assists, helping Hartwick record 55 total kills as a team.
Defensively,
Malia Dake (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) led the team with 27 digs, while
Maya Lesinski (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) contributed 16 digs.
Samantha Garback (Tully, N.Y.) recorded six blocks from the middle, combining with Gracias and Walker for a team total of 13 blocks.
Hartwick held the advantage in several key categories, finishing with a .178 hitting percentage compared to Utica's .078. The Hawks also recorded 90 digs to the Pioneer's 85, and 13 blocks to Utica's five. Hartwick finished with seven service aces, while Utica recorded six.
With the win, Hartwick improves to 9-9 overall and 4-2 in Empire 8 play.
Hartwick opened the match with a 2-0 lead, but Utica responded with a run to take control of the first set. The Pioneers built a six-point advantage at 12-6 before the Hawks worked to close the gap. Hartwick battled back late, pulling within 2 points at 23-21, but Utica made one final push to take the opener 25-22.
The Hawks responded in the second set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind a strong play from Walker and
Olivia Pirkl (Cazenovia, N.Y.). Hartwick extended their advantage to 11-6 before Utica mounted a comeback, eventually tying 12-12. The teams traded points down the stretch, with the set tied at 20-20 before Hartwick closed on a 5-3 run. Walker recorded the set-winning kill to even the match one set to one, with a 25-23 final.
Hartwick carried their momentum into the third set, opening with a 3-0 run. Utica battled back to tie the score at 8-8, and the teams continued trading points through the middle of the set. The Hawks gained separation late, taking a 19-17 lead before closing out the set 25-20. Pirkl delivered back-to-back aces to finish the set and put Hartwick one set away from the win.
The Hawks controlled the fourth set from the start, building an 8-4 lead and maintaining their advantage throughout the frame. Hartwick continued to apply pressure at the net, extending the lead to 17-12 before putting together a decisive run to go ahead 21-13. Walker and Gracias helped lead the attack as the Hawks closed out the fourth and final set, 25-15.
