Nov. 13, 2005
Final Stats
The Siena volleyball team concluded its regular-season Sunday with its seventh consecutive victory, an impressive 3-1 score over Saint Peter's that solidified the Saints as the #2 seed in the upcoming conference championships this weekend at Niagara. The Saints enter the Tournament as the MAAC's hottest team, after finishing the conference season with a 7-2 mark. Siena was selected ninth in the preseason coaches' poll.
"Our goal all season has been to advance to the conference Tournament and win it," head coach Garvey Pierre said following the match. "We are not surprised with what we have done and we are not satisfied to simply be in the Tournament. Our mindset right now is to win and earn the NCAA berth."
Siena's (18-11/7-2 MAAC) outside hitters did the most damage on this day as sophomore sensation Nadiege Honore and junior Christie Gustafson combined for 42 of the team's 74 kills. Gustafson registered benchmark kill 1000 early in the first game, becoming just the fifth player in school history to do so despite having a full season remaining in Loudonville. The ever-improving Honore made a final pitch for All-MAAC accolades with a 22-kill performance to go along with a match-high 18 digs.
Siena honored the two members of its senior class, Liz Hubbard and Christa Glenn, before the match and then stormed out of the gate, coasting to a 30-19 win in the first game. Gustafson, who entered the match with 995 kills, killed six of her seven attacks in the first game, while Honore posted 10 kills.
Freshman setter April London may have played her most effective match of her young career, dishing out 62 assists in the four games. She also played a key role with her service all afternoon, especially in the fourth game, when she helped the Saints to a 6-0 lead after the Peacocks had stolen the momentum with a game three win.
Saint Peter's (16-13/5-4 MAAC) was eliminated from the MAAC Tournament with the loss, marking the second consecutive opponent Siena knocked out of postseason contention this weekend. Siena defeated Manhattan 3-2 yesterday in a do-or-die match for both teams.
The Peahens were led by Serra Soylou who posted 17 kills. Gulhan Cakcak and Tara Teslaa had 15 and 12 kills respectively.
Siena will take on the #3 seed Iona in Saturday's semifinal. Top-seeded Fairfield will play host Niagara, the #4 seed in the other semifinal with the winners advancing to Sunday's Championship.
