LOUDONVILLE, NY – Despite an encouraging start from the Saints' Volleyball team that took the opening set and set a season high in team blocks for the evening, the Saints were defeated 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 14-25, 18-25) against MAAC opponent Rider on Wednesday night at the UHY Center. 
 
The Saints (2-21, 2-11 MAAC) recorded 15 team blocks (24 block assists and three solo blocks) as it received a plentitude of net defense from Sina Toroslu and Hannah Bowman (seven total blocks apiece) and Monet Latunde (six total blocks).
 
Rider (7-14, 6-6 MAAC) were led by Tori Schrader (13 kills), Kiannisha Santiago and Paige Giehtbrock (12 kills apiece). 
 
Olga Sawinska recorded a team-high 11 kills with four blocks on her birthday. Freshman Kayla Jones hit an efficient seven kills against just one error on 13 attacks. (.462 hitting percentage).  Oliwia Majtyka had 20 assists to go along with seven digs.  Freshman Payton Hinkle had a team-high 11 digs and added five assists. 
 
Siena took the first set, by jumping out to a 9-3 advantage with Claire Isaksen serving behind the line.  Once Rider knotted the score at 19 all, Kayla Jones and Sawinska each came up with key kills to give the Saints a two-point edge.  The Broncs would lock it up once again at 21 all, but Siena scored the final four points behind kills from Toroslu and Sawinska and a pair of Rider attack errors.   
 
Rider went ahead 6-3 in the early parts of set two with three straight attack errors by Siena and ace from Keegan O'Connor. Siena rallied to tie it at 11 on a Hannah Bowman kill.  Carly McAleavey put down two kills to help give the Broncs an 18-14 edge.  The Saints reclaimed the lead at 22-21 after kills from Bowman and Toroslu followed by a Rider miscue.  The Broncos were able to win four of the last five with kills from Santiago and Gabby Polynice. O'Connor closed the set with an ace.
 
In the third set, the Broncos took a 12-8 lead off a kill from Giehtbrock.  Siena got within 18-14 on a Latunde kill and a ball handling error from the Broncs.  But, Rider finished off the final seven points with two kills from McAleavey and three Siena errors. 
 
Siena led 5-4 in the early stages of the fourth set on a kill from Sawinska. Rider went ahead 12-8 after three consecutive points and followed up with four more after a Siena kill from Jones in between the run to extend the lead to 16-9.  The teams traded points for the remainder of the set as Rider pulled out the win 25-18. 
 
On the weekend, Siena hosts Canisius (6-14, 4-8 MAAC) on Saturday at 2 p.m.