Sept. 29, 2011
Final Stats
The Siena volleyball team entered Thursday night's match against upstart Marist reeling from losses in three of their first four MAAC matches. The Red Foxes were flying high off a 3-0 win over Iona Sunday, a team that dismantled Siena here in the ARC Saturday. No worries. The Saints rocked the Red Foxes 3-0 (25-17, 25-22 and 25-21) in a critical early season MAAC test.
Siena had flashed signs of its potential in spurts this season, besting Colorado early in the year and racing to a 2-0 lead over Fairfield here Sunday, but Thursday's win represented the team's most complete effort by far.
Colleen Ahearn killed 11 of her 21 attacks without a single error, posting a gaudy .524 attack percentage in the middle. Freshman Jacqueline Skeen was also efficient inside, killing seven of 13 attempts, helping provide unusual balance to a Siena offense that has lived through sophomore standout Taylor Akana the last two seasons.
Akana did her damage too, posting a match-high 16 kills, several coming from the back row, where she also took advantage of a depleted Marist middle.
Siena also dominated the match on defense, led by libero Lesli Akeo's astounding 32 digs in the three sets. Up front, setter Sarah Sivertson and Ahearn teamed up for the majority of the Saints' 11 blocks.
The Saints set the tone right away, sprinting free for a commanding 25-17 victory in the first set. The turning point of the match came in the second set when Siena rallied from four down, scoring the final seven points to post an improbable 25-22 victory. The final six points came behind the service of junior Elizabeth Ives who kept the Marist offense off-balance with her aggressive jump serve.
The final set was tied late too, but Siena broke free to score six of the last eight points to claim victory - something the team failed to do in Sunday's tough setback.
Joanna Foss was the only Marist player to register double digit kills, notching 11.
The Saints have a rare six-day break before returning to action next Wednesday when they travel to Fairfield and try avenge their most recent loss.
