Oct. 8, 2011
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
In a match that in many ways served as a microcosm of Siena's 2011 volleyball season, Canisius rallied from a 2-1 deficit to hand the Saints a crippling 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 20-25, 25-22 and 15-10) setback in Loudonville Saturday. Taylor Akana racked up 28 kills and 21 digs - a scintillating performance that went for naught for Siena.
Both teams entered Saturday's match in desperate need of a victory. The veteran Griffs had won just once in their first five league contests despite entering the season as one of the conference favorites, while Siena had just two victories in its first six league tries with several near misses.
In the end, it was Canisius that got the job done.
The Griffs won the first set comfortably, 25-18, but then Siena took control with back-to-back victories, 25-23 and 25-20. With the fourth set knotted at 22-22, the match turned on an Emily Elek kill, and Canisius trailed just once the rest of the way. Elek was a real difference maker for Canisius, entering the match for the first time in the fourth set, and killing seven of her first nine attacks. The last one sparked a 3-0 run that ended the set, and gave Canisius life.
In the fifth set, Canisius grabbed an early lead, and after the Saints rallied to take a 10-9 lead on Sarah Sivertson's ace, they regrouped to score the last six points and take the match.
Akana was simply brilliant for Siena, notching 10 kills in the first set to establish the tone for her monstrous performance. She got some help from Colleen Ahearn in the middle who finished 12 of 31 attacks, while freshman Jacquiline Skeen had eight of her 10 kills in sets three and four. Siena setter Sarah Sivertson led all players with 48 assists.
The difference in the match may have been the service. Siena committed 14 serving errors and had just three aces, while the Griffs recorded seven aces against just 10 errors.
Canisius libero Allyson Severyn played a stellar match, leading all players with 26 digs.
Siena needs to gather itself quickly as two-time defending MAAC Champ Niagara comes to town Sunday.
