LOUDONVILLE, NY - Despite a win in the first set of the match, the Siena Saints volleyball team fell just short in multiple sets as they fell to the Rider Broncs by a final of 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 22-25, 12-25) at the Alumni Recreation Center on Sunday afternoon. Rider freshman Morgan Romano tossed in a double-double with 14 kills and 17 digs to lead the Broncs.

Rider also received strong efforts from Morgan Koch, who smacked 13 kills and had a hand in seven blocks, and Ali Ward to collected 10 kills. Running the offense was Anilee Sher, as she tossed out 46 assists. Libero Rachelle Runyon matched Romano's defensive effort, also putting up 17 digs. 

Sophomore Dakota Jackson led the Siena effort on offense with 12 kills, and also had 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Sophomore Abby Huffman collected seven kills in the middle, while freshman Maria Llinas facilitated the offense with 39 assists. Freshman Gracie Halley rounded up 19 total digs to lead the Green and Gold, while classmate Madoka Weldon also put up 15 digs.

"I know our team should be very proud of how they played today," said head coach Vilis Ozols. "The loss hurts, but the effort and execution continue to improve and this young team is gaining invaluable experience that will serve us well in the future."

In the first set, the Saints led from the get go keeping Rider suppressed on offense. An early 6-0 with freshman Isabella Ultsch serving did the trick, as she collected three service aces in the run for Siena to take a 10-4 lead. The Green and Gold would hold onto their lead despite a Rider comeback, as the Broncs would tie things up late at 20-20 after a kill by Ward. But the Saints got back-to-back kills from Huffman and freshman Ally-Reese Williams, then a service ace from Llinas to go up 23-20. After a point by Rider, back-to-back errors by the Broncs would wrap the set for the Saints 25-21 giving them the 1-0 lead.  

The second set featured a lot of back and fourth play, as both sides could not snag a major lead more than three points. As the set progressed late, Siena held a 23-21 lead as the Green and Gold were able to take advantage with a Huffman kill and bad set from the Broncs. But, Romano would get the Broncs going back in the right direction with a kill, and Koch would get back-to-back aces to give Rider the 24-23 lead. With set point up, Jackson came through in the clutch for Siena to tie things back up at 24-24. As the set stood tied, Romano stepped up with a kill, then a service ace to collect the final two points for a Rider 26-24 win to tie the match up 1-1.

Set three would just about replicate the second set, as both sides stood close once again. Rider had a slight 20-16 advantage shrunk by a trio of Siena points as a pair of Rider attack errors and a kill from freshman Sol Guidarelli brought them back within one at 20-19. Both sides traded points until the Broncs got a leg up with a 24-21 lead on back-to-back kills from Ward and Romano. Guidarelli would snag another kill for Siena to make things interesting before Rider closed the set with a kill from Koch. The Saints would lose steam in the fourth set, as Rider rode off with a 25-12 win to wrap up a 3-1 win.

Siena returns to the floor this Wednesday, October 30 when they head over to Connecticut to take on the Fairfield Stags. Opening serve for the matchup is set for 7 p.m.