The Keuka College Women's Volleyball Team earned the #3 seed for the 2023 Empire 8 Women's Volleyball Championship. They will host the #6 seed Utica University on Tuesday night at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center at 7pm.

The Basics:

• Matchup: #3 Keuka College (18-6, 6-2 Empire 8) vs. #6 Utica University (16-12, 3-5 Empire 8)
• Date: Tuesday, November 7, 2023
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Site: David M. Sweet Court, JMW Recreation and Athletics Center, Keuka College

Live Coverage:

• Live video will be available on Wolves+ with Will Tehan '25 on the play by play call
• Live stats will also be available here 
• Follow along on our social media channels on X and Instagram for coverage throughout the match as well

Tickets:

• Admission is mandatory for all Empire 8 Championship events
• General Spectators: $6
• Students with ID: $4
• Children under 12: Free
• Keuka College Students and Employees: Free, courtesy of Dr. Heather Maldonado adn the Student Development division 
• Doors open at 6 p.m. Only cash will be accepted at the door

Get Your Popcorn Ready:

• There will be free popcorn and pom poms for all Keuka College students at the match on Tuesday courtesy of Student Senate
• It is also a Green/Camo theme for Lake Effect and the students as Keuka College is on the hunt for a playoff win. All students wearing green or camo will be entered to win a raffle for an Amazon gift card

The First Meeting: Keuka College hosted Utica University on October 11 earlier this year. The Wolves came out with a three-set victory over the Pioneers. Keuka College won 25-13, 25-21, 25-14. Dayna Edholm led the Wolves with 16 kills and five aces. Casey Hunziker had 29 assists and Emma Sipos added 18 digs. Eleanor Cepiel led Utica with 12 kils and Cassi Wagemann had 16 digs in the match.

Senior Leadership: Keuka College leans on their senior leaders this year and they have not only led the Wolves, but many have led the conference. Dayna Edholm leads the way for the Keuka College offense. The senior has 343 kills this season. It is the sixth-most in a season in program history. Edholm leads the Empire 8 with an average of 4.13 kills per set. Casey Hunziker is the leading setter in the conference. She is averaging 9.12 assists per set to top the lead. For the season, she also ranks sixth with 830 assists. Senior libero Emma Sipos leads the Wolves and the Empire 8 with a 4.19 dig per set average. Sipos also held the lead in aces per set, but was passed up while the Wolves were off last week. Sipos has 53 aces on the season, averaging 0.59 per set, third-best in the Empire 8. Senior Camey Knapp has be the key for Keuka College when they needed a point. She is second on the team with 180 kills and is fifth in the Empire 8 with a .243 hitting percentage. 

Scouting the Pioneers: Utica University boasts one of the top defenses in the Empire 8. They lead the league averaging 16.38 digs per set and rank fourth with 1.27 blocks per set. Individually, Eleanor Cepiel leads Utica with 3.89 digs per set, fifth-best in the Empire 8. Cassi Wagemann is right behind her in seventh place with a 3.64 digs per set average. At the net, Caitlyn Esposito leads Utica witha 0.71 block per set average, fourth-best in the league. Eleanor Cepiel does a lot more than just lead the Pioneers in digs. She is one of the top attackers in the league. The graduate student is averaging 3.77 kills per set, third best in the league. She has it 332 total kills this season. 

How 'Sweet' It Is: The Wolves have felt right at home playing on David M. Sweet Court this season. The Green and Gold have set a program record by winning all 10 of their home matches this season. They are one of 25 schools nation-wide to have a perfect home record this season. Including their last game of last season, Keuka has won 11 straight at home, tying for the 11th longest active streak in Division III.

What's At Stake: The winner of Tuesday's match will advance in the Empire 8 Championship. They will travel to Oneonta, N.Y. to face the #2 seed Hartwick College on Thursday in the semi-finals.