LOUDONVILLE, NY – For the first time since the 2016 season, the Siena Saints Volleyball program has won five matches in a row. The Green and Gold defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles for the first time in nine tries by a 3-0 final at the UHY Center on Saturday.
 
Sophomore Sara Wagner led the Siena offense with 14 kills, while graduate student Emily Wunder notched 11 kills. Sophomore Claire Isaksen tossed out 30 assists over the three sets, while senior Gracie Halley collected 19 digs. Freshman Emily Wood was also strong defensively adding in 10 digs. For Niagara, Lexi Bapst was strong with 10 digs and six kills.
 
Siena rolled in the first set, opening the match with a 25-16 win in the first set. Wunder was strong early, collecting four kills in the first frame. Wagner was a catalyst in the second set, scoring five of the first eight points for the Saints. However, the Purple Eagles pushed the Saints, as Niagara took one of their lone leads of the day off a 4-0 run to give them a 17-16 lead midway through.
 
As both sides fought to a 20-all score in the second, Siena won five of the last six rallies to take the 25-21 victory to go up 2-0 in the match. The Saints finished things off in the third, opening a big lead and finishing with a kill from Wagner to stave off a late push from the Purple Eagles.
 
As a team, the Saints added seven service aces to continue their hot streak. Niagara did win the battle in blocks, leading the Saints 8-4 on the match.
 
Siena returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. when they host Canisius at the UHY Center.