LOUDONVILLE, NY – Akuabata Okenwa and Chloe Evering registered 10 kills apiece to lead UAlbany over Siena Volleyball 3-0 (20-25, 17-25, 16-25) in the first meeting between the crosstown rivals at the ARC in seven years. Freshman Isabella Ultsch led the Saints with a match-high 12 kills, while classmate Ally-Reese Williams added nine.
 
"UAlbany did some pretty nice things tonight, but I was very proud of the way our team battled in the match," said head coach Vilis Ozols. "Izzy and All-Reese did a great job offensively, and the team gave it their all with numerous sustained rallies."
 
UAlbany (10-9) held slight advantages in kills (35-29), assists (35-27), and digs (43-39) in a relatively evenly contested match. Siena (8-12) continued to excel at the net, holding a 10-9 edge in team blocks. The Great Danes however doubled up the Saints on the attack by a .162 to .081 margin to secure their eighth straight victory overall.
 
UAlbany recorded seven of the first eight points of the match and led throughout the opening set. The Great Danes opened as much as eight-point cushion at 17-9, but Siena responded with a 7-3 spurt to rally back within as close as four at 20-16. However, the sides traded points thereafter as UAlbany took a 25-20 set win.
 
The teams were neck-in-neck throughout much of the second set, with neither side leading by more than three points until late. But following a 14-all tie, the Great Danes finished on an 11-3 run highlighted by three service aces to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 triumph.
 
Both sides once again battled to a 12-12 tie to start the third set, but once again UAlbany finished strong on a 13-4 run to secure a 25-16 victory and complete the sweep.
 
Grace Cozad contributed eight kills and a team-high 12 digs for the Great Danes, while freshman Maria Lllinas posted a double-double for the Saints with a match-high 24 assists to go along with a team-high 12 digs.
 
Siena returns to action this weekend when they begin the second half of their conference slate with key MAAC home matches against Saint Peter's and Rider. Action resumes Saturday with a 1p.m. first serve against the Peacocks.