For the second time this season, the Siena Saints topped MAAC Preseason favorite Canisius, this time on their own floor in Buffalo. Sophomore Abby Huffman notched a career game in the middle, smacking 16 kills with a solid .577 attack percentage and four assisted blocks in the win.

Along with the strong individual effort from Huffman, the Saints had arguably their best defensive effort of the season as six different Saints collected double-digit digs. Freshman Sol Guidarelli led the defensive effort with 17 digs and six kills, while Maria Llinas assisted on 49 kills and secured 14 digs. Junior Dakota Jackson was solid on both sides of the ball with 13 digs and 11 kills for a double-double, and freshman Isabella Ultsch had 15 kills.

Canisius had three different players in double-figure kills, as Hannah Nelson led the way with 14 kills. Camila Vazquez put up 11 kills, while Leah Simmons put up 10. Libero Bree Long had a match-high 22 digs, and Cassidy Ceriani tossed out 20 assists for the Golden Griffins. 

"That was such an emotional match and our players should be so proud of the effort and execution today," said head coach Vilis Ozols. "This is a tough place to win. Maria ran the offense like a veteran and combined with some great defense from all of the back court. Our attackers truly delivered, particularly Abby, Izzy, and Dakota with double-digit kills."

Canisius came out of the gate strong, snagging a 20-10 lead in the first thanks to hot hands from Nelson and Simmons. After a Siena attack error that would make it 20-10 in favor of Canisius, the Saints put up a 11-2 run that got them back into the set, trailing only by a single point at 22-21. However, three of the next four points would go in favor of the Golden Griffs as they took the set 25-23 and a 1-0 lead in the match.

Ultsch would help jumpstart the Saints in the second set, as Siena and Canisius fought within a point of each other the length of the set. The biggest lead would be only three points, as the Green and Gold got a kill from Jackson and a service ace from Llinas to take a 21-18 lead. Canisius didn't go away, and they would take the next three points to tie up the match once again, and both sides traded jabs to a 23-23 score. Ultsch would step up with a kill, followed by a Golden Griffs mistake to give the Saints a 25-23 win and tie the match up 1-1. With things tied up, Canisius responded and took the third set handedly 25-16 to regain the advantage 2-1.

Both sides scored in chunks in the fourth set, until things got late, and the Saints trailed 20-18. A quick 3-0 spurt that featured a pair of Canisius attack errors and an ace from freshman Gracie Halley, Siena would make things interesting up 21-20. The Green and Gold took advantage of Canisius miscues, and took the fourth set 25-23 as Huffman topped it with a cherry on a kill to force the fifth and deciding set.

Set five would make the price of admission in Buffalo worth it, as an early 8-3 Siena lead disappeared to a 9-8 lead quickly as Nelson kept a hot hand for the Golden Griffs. Huffman, Jackson, and Ultsch would secure kills, with Huffman doubling up on kills as Siena took a 13-10 lead. But, Canisius used three straight blocks from the duo of Leah Simmons and Sofia Lopez Diaz and tied things up at 13-13. But Huffman once again broke the ice with a kill to force match point, and senior Kelly Chaney finished off the match her fifth kill of the day to secure the win for the Saints.

The Saints return to action tomorrow, Sunday, November 10 when they finish out their western New York trip at Niagara. Opening serve goes up at 1 p.m.