LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Volleyball returns to the Capital Region on Thursday, as the Saints will battle it out with the Manhattan Jaspers in downtown Albany at the Albany Capital Center in a doubleheader starting at 12 PM.
 
Follow the Saints' season opener by clicking on the corresponding links at the top of the page. Tune in to both matches via Siena All-Access, where A.J. Kanell will have the call for both games. Continuous in-match updates will be provided via the team's official twitter page @SienaVB. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints, and #MAACVB.
 
Siena has brought in a core of young talent in year three under head coach Vilis Ozols to mix with upperclassman in senior outside hitter Dakota Jackson and junior middle blocker Maddy Dunigan. Sophomores Gracie Halley and Madoka Weldon will hold down the fort defensively sharing libero duties. The Saints were selected seventh in the Preseason MAAC Coaches' Poll.
 
The Saints opened their 2021 spring season in Buffalo, as they fell to the Canisius Golden Griffins in both matches 3-1 and 3-0. However, Siena had freshman Greta Stjade stand out in both matches, heavily leading the Saints in multiple categories. Freshman Hailey Hinkel also impressed in her first collegiate outing, falling one kill short of a double-double finishing with 13 digs and nine kills in the Saints first match against the Golden Griffins.
 
Manhattan dropped both ends of its doubleheader to Niagara at the Gallagher Center last weekend. Sophomore Kelly Markowski paced the Jaspers on the day, averaging 3.0 kills per set on .182 hitting, while senior Meagan Miller added 2.17 kills per set.
 
The Saints' remaining schedule consists of only one home weekend at the UHY Center when they host Marist (Mar. 28) and road action at Fairfield this weekend (Mar. 21).