LOUDONVILLE – Juniors Dakota Jackson and sophomore Abby Huffman led the Siena Saints with nine kills each on Saturday afternoon, but the Saints would fall to the Niagara Purple Eagles by a final score of 3-0 (25-27, 19-25, 19-25) at the Alumni Recreation Center. Niagara's Jaycie Roberts picked up a double-double with 14 kills and 19 digs.
 
Backing up the two nine-kill efforts was freshman Maria Llinas, tossing out 35 assists on the day. Freshman Ally-Reese Williams and Sol Guidarelli each smacked seven kills apiece, with sophomore Maddy Dunigan smacking six kills. Freshman Gracie Halley led the team with nine digs on the match.
 
For Niagara, Caroline Leitch added 12 kills with eight digs to pair with Roberts' performance. Mary Redl also ended in double-figure kills with 10. At the setter position, Jessica Streuer tossed out 39 assists.
 
"Niagara played us tough today," said head coach Vilis Ozols. "I felt like we had what it took to compete but ultimately our focus and some unforced errors kept us from being the best that we could be. I know that we will keep improving in that area."
 
Early on, it would be a match of mistakes as the Saints were strong offensively but would commit 12 total errors. Seven of Siena's 12 errors would come from service errors in the set. Despite the tough error display, the Saints would hang in, trailing 21-19 late in the set. The Green and Gold would run off a 4-0 run to take the lead in the set, 23-21 thanks to a kill from Jackson and three straight from Williams. But, errors kept the Purple Eagles in the set, as Niagara would take control with a 25-24 lead. Llinas would keep the set alive for Siena, putting down a kill to tie it up at 25-25. Then, Roberts and Leitch would go back-to-back with kills to take the set 27-25.
 
The second set would see the Saints jump out to a 5-1 lead, but would quickly be erased with four straight points by Niagara to tie it up at 5-5. Both squads traded points through the middle of the set until the Purple Eagles ran off six straight points to take an 18-13 lead. Niagara wouldn't let go of that lead, finishing off the set 25-19. It would be much of the same story in the third set, as Niagara owned the lead through most of the third to take the set by the same final, 25-19, sweeping the match 3-0.
 
The Saints return to action tomorrow, October 13 when they face off against the Canisius Golden Griffins. Opening serve in the Alumni Recreation Center kicks things off at 1 p.m.