LOUDONVILLE, NY – Holding a 13-11 lead late in the fifth set on Wednesday night, the Siena Volleyball team saw the Binghamton Bearcats score four straight points to take a 15-13 win, clinching the match 3-2 and snatching a victory from the Green and Gold at the UHY Center.
 
"What a heartbreaking loss for our great squad tonight," said head coach Vilis Ozols. "We had some great performances in the loss. Both Olga and Emily were anchors on the right side, and a huge part of our success. I feel bad for the frustration that our team is feeling as we've played well enough to win in so many matches and we just have to learn that final step of closing it out for the victory. I know that's the next evolution for this talented group."
 
Freshman Sara Wagner had yet another standout performance, notching her first collegiate double-double with 16 kills and 20 digs. Emily Wunder contributed 15 kills, while Olga Sawinska also added 12 kills and five assisted blocks. Defensively, junior Gracie Halley led the way with 22 digs, while Wagner's 20 made it the first time this season two Saints finished with 20-plus digs. Greta Stjade and had 14 digs, as Claire Isaksen also found her first collegiate double-double with 17 assists and 11 digs.
 
Binghamton was led by an 18-kill night by Stefana Stan, while Anna Sprys had the top all-around night with 12 killls and seven blocks. Kiara Adams facilitated the offense with 42 assists, and Emily Rail led the defensive effort with 21 digs. Adams also added 14 digs, giving her a double-double on the night.
 
Both sides swapped sets in the first two, as the Saints took the early 1-0 lead after the first set. Wagner and Wunder provided the power, as each opened the first set with four kills apiece. Despite a loss in the second set, the Saints continued on the upswing by hitting a solid .273 in the frame. As things hit the intermission, things stood tied at one set apiece.
 
Siena then took control in the third set, as they scored in clumps after an 8-7 lead. The Green and Gold would open up a 16-11 lead, and extend it out even further after a 4-0 run that saw three Binghamton attack errors and a Sawinska kill. Able to take advantage of multiple Bearcat mistakes as Binghamton hit their match-low .091 on the set, Siena took the 2-1 lead into the fourth set.
 
The Bearcats were able to flip the script in the fourth set, as Siena accumulated eight attack errors, their highest on the night. Despite holding an 11-10 lead midway through, the Saints gave up a 10-0 run that saw Binghamton open a 19-11 lead. In the run, Binghamton scored five kills, a pair of service aces, and three attack errors from the Saints. Despite a late run by Siena, Binghamton hung on for the 25-17 set win to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
In the final set, Siena scored a 5-0 run early on for a 7-5 lead with freshman Claire Isaksen on the serve. Senior Maddy Dunigan collected a trio of kills before the media timeout and an 8-6 Siena lead. The Saints would end up finding themselves in a 13-11 lead as Sawinska scored a pair of kills, followed up by the final kills of the night from Wagner and Wunder. However, Binghamton would dig deep and score four straight points at the end that included a pair of attack errors and a walk-off service ace to win it 15-13.
 
The Saints will return to action this Saturday, Sept. 18 when they hit the road to open MAAC play in a weekend in Buffalo. Siena will face off with the Canisius Golden Griffins on Saturday at 12 PM before finishing up their weekend with the Niagara Purple Eagles on Sunday at 12 PM.