After holding a 2-1 lead in the match after three sets, the Siena Saints came close to finishing the deal as they fell to the Air Force Falcons by a final score of 3-2 (25-16, 24-26, 23-25, 25-21, 15-9) in the neutral site match held at Brown University. Junior
Hailey Hinkel showed out for the Saints, collecting a double-double with team-highs - 12 kills and 26 digs.
Brookelyn Messenger scored a match-high 13 kills for Air Force, also putting up a double-double with 19 digs and a pair of blocks. Ella Tschuor added 11 kills – scoring the final two points of the match to clinch the win for Air Force. Carolina Reinkensmeyer notched 22 assists in the win.
Backing up Hinkel's performance for the Saints was a pair of 10 kill efforts from
Olga Sawinska and
Emily Wunder, with
Sara Wagner falling just short of a double-double with 12 digs and eight kills.
Gracie Halley also scooped 20 digs, with
Claire Isaksen also scoring a double-double with 14 assists and 10 digs.
Despite a slow start, the Saints were able to battle back and take the second set 26-24 thanks to strong play from Hinkel. The momentum carried over to the third set as the Saints lept out to a 16-9 lead midway through the third. The Falcons chipped away slowly down the stretch, pulling the set into a 23-all tie. But, a pair of kills from Sawinska clinched the set and a 2-1 lead for the Green and Gold.
The Saints took an early lead in the fourth, getting out to an early 10-7 lead. Air Force then took off and jumped to a 19-13 lead. Siena continued to chip away as Sawinska stepped up with multiple kills to keep the Saints in the hunt. However, the Falcons finished off the set to force a fifth and deciding set.
Air Force jumped out an 8-3 lead in the set before the Saints clawed their way back to a 10-9 score. However, the Falcons went on a 5-0 run to finish the match, clinching the win.
The Saints scored 12 service aces on the match – a new season high – while also collecting 36 total errors.
Siena returns to action tomorrow with two matches, starting at 11 AM with a match at the University of Rhode Island before returning back to Brown later on for their second match at 7 PM.
