Sept. 3, 2010
Final Stats
The Siena volleyball team was playing without its top two offensive players Friday night, and Cornell took advantage. The Big Red turned back an early 1-0 deficit to win the next three sets in a 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-19) victory over the stubborn Saints in the opening match of the Cornell Invitational Friday night in Ithaca.
Sophomore libero Lesli Akeo anchored a superb effort by the Siena (0-4) defense with a career-high 35 digs in just four sets.
Siena will try for its first win of the season Saturday against Lamar and St. Francis (Pa.).
Playing without injured captain Aubrey Bobo and freshman phenom Taylor Akana, the Saints hung tough all night.
Siena scored five of the first six points in the first set and used a 9-1 run to turn a 12-11 lead into a convincing 21-12 advantage on its way to a convincing 25-19 victory.
The second set was tied at 19-19 before the Big Red (1-0) took the lead for good on a Siena attack error. The teams traded points down the stretch before Alice Cope connected on the winning kill to even the match at 1-1.
The Saints rallied from 23-18 down to close within a point, 24-23, in the critical third set, but Jordan Reeder finished a Cope set on match point to give Cornell control.
Cornell got out to a 20-10 lead in the fourth set and Siena could get no closer than five as the Big Red rolled to a decisive 25-19 win.
The Siena defense kept the match tight and Akeo emerged as the star of the match. Setter Elizabeth Ives also played well, posting 37 assists and 13 digs.
The Saints makeshift offense was led by sophomore Sarah Sivertson with 15 kills. Brianne Bobo added 10 kills and middle blocker Colleen Ahearn had nine kills in just 17 attacks (.471).
Kelly Hansen led balanced Cornell with 12 kills.
