LOUDONVILLE – A three-hour power delay and a matchup with the MAAC preseason favorites wasn't enough to jolt Siena volleyball. Instead, it was the Saints who would turn the lights out on Canisius' six-match win streak. Freshman Sol Guidarelli registered a double-double with a match-high 15 kills and added 13 digs as Siena rallied past the Golden Griffins in five sets (21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15, 15-13).
 
For Siena behind Guidarelli's performance were sophomores Maddy Dunigan and Abby Huffman, who each collected 10 kills. Running the offense would be freshman Maria Llinas, who set a career-high with 51 assists, breaking the 50-assist barrier for the second time this season. However, the defense, led by freshman Madoka Weldon with a team-high 21 digs, stole the show. Five different Saints, including Weldon, snagged double-digit digs, as freshman Gracie Halley was the other 20-plus dig effort with 20. As a team, the Saints also flexed their muscles at the net with 13 team blocks. Huffman would be the lead in that category, having a hand in seven blocks.
 
Canisius was led by a 13 kill effort from Leah Simmons, while Hannah Nelson notched a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Bree Long snagged 24 digs, as she led an effort of four Golden Griffins with double-digit digs. At the net, Canisius had 18 team blocks, with Camila Vazquez getting her hand in a match-high 10 blocks.
 
After finally getting things started up around 4 p.m., the Golden Griffins came out fast with a quick 8-1 lead. Forcing an early Siena timeout, the time to recoup helped the Saints as they were able to snag four points in row to get going. However, Canisius extended their lead out to 13-6 after taking five of the next six points, featuring back-to-back kills from Simmons. The Saints did not go quietly, getting the Canisius lead to 16-10, which started another rally in which they would pull within one at 16-15 thanks to a Maria Llinas ace.
 
Siena would finally grab the lead with a 20-19 score after a clutch kill from junior Nicole Deobler, and once again from the third year outside hitter after a Canisius point made it 21-20 in favor of Siena. But, the Golden Griffins scored five points in a row, including a pair of kills from Gabrielle Darnaby to take the 25-21 win and go up 1-0.
 
The second set would begin the battle of the middle sets, as both teams had one their strongest offensive set of the match. Canisius would hit a match best .227, while the Saints upped them in that department with a .250 attack percentage. The key point in the set would be a 5-0 run by the Saints to take a 10-7 lead, a lead they would not surrender the remaining portion of the set. A kill by junior Dakota Jackson sealed the set 25-22, tying things up at 1-1 heading into the intermission.
 
Set three would be worth the price of admission on the night, as neither side was able to hold an advantage despite each team gaining a lead by more than four at different points in the set. Deep into the set after a Simmons kill for Canisius, the Golden Griffins sat in the driver's seat with a 23-21 lead. Freshman Ally-Reese Williams would respond with a kill for Siena, followed by a Canisius attack error to tie things up at 23-23. But the Golden Griffins had a response, as Nelson smacked a kill, followed by a block from Nelson and Vazquez to seal the set 25-23, giving Canisius the 2-1 lead.
 
The fourth set would be all Siena, as an out-of-rotation call on Canisius halfway through would sway momentum toward the Green and Gold. That point would sway Siena to a 12-9 lead, which they capitalized on and scored five more points on a row to take a 17-9 lead. It would end on a kill from Huffman, as the Saints took the 25-15 win, forcing the fifth set. In the fourth, Siena would have their best offensive output, hitting at a .281 clip with 15 total kills and only six errors.
 
The fifth set would stay close throughout, with either side gaining a lead no more than two points at any point. An attack error at the court switch by Siena gave Canisius the 8-7 advantage, which they added to with another Siena attack error the following point. The Golden Griffins would work out to an 11-10 lead before Siena came through with three point sway on a kill from Huffman, Canisius attack error, and a huge block from Dunigan and Guidarelli. With the Saints now leading 13-11, both sides went point-for-point until Guidarelli smacked the game-winning kill to snag the 15-13 win, and 3-2 comeback victory in the match.
 
The Saints return to action next Saturday, Oct. 19 when they travel to take on the Manhattan Jaspers. Opening serve for the matchup is slated for 1 p.m.