UTICA, N.Y. – The Southern Vermont College women's volleyball team fell 3-0 and then 3-1 to Morrisville State College and Utica College, respectively, Saturday afternoon during UC's non-conference tri-match at Clark Gymnasium.

The Mountaineers (1-15) now look to the start of their New England Collegiate Conference schedule when they visit Becker College on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. first serve.

MORRISVILLE STATE 3 – SOUTHERN VERMONT 0
The Mustangs swept the match with set scores of 25-14, 25-16, and 25-18.

Mountaineer junior Heidy Benitez (Tulare, Calif.) popped up a team-high 26 digs as classmate Liv Sowles (Sacramento, Calif.) had a team-leading nine kills to go with five aces, three digs, and two blocks.

Sophomore setter Abigail Landon (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) tallied 14 assists while adding six digs, and freshman Nikki Ramirez (West Covina, Calif.) notched four kills, seven digs, and two blocks in the match.

UTICA 3 – SOUTHERN VERMONT 1
The hosting Pioneers took the opening set of the tri-match finale with a 25-14 tally, but the Mountaineers came back to tie the contest with a 25-20 win in the second game. Utica won the third by a 25-13 margin, and the hosts were able to hold off SVC in the fourth with a 25-22 win to end the night.

Sowles and Ramirez both tied the match-high of eight kills as Sowles added 13 digs, five aces, and three blocks to her line; Ramirez had another five digs and two aces in the effort.

Benitez notched a match-best 22 digs, and she also had three aces against the Pioneers. Sophomore Sarah Billow (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) registered 10 digs and a pair of kills while freshman Gabby Rushia (Cohoes, N.Y.) recorded 12 assists and three digs.

– #LetsGoSVC –