LOUDONVILLE, NY – During Friday morning's ESPN pre-match media interview, Siena head volleyball coach Simone Asque-Favia provided an analogy to aptly describe the Saints current state in the season.
 
"We're close," said Asque-Favia. "I tell them (the team) all the time that when you're going through tough matches and tough things, it's like being on a tricycle and pedaling up a hill.  You have to keep pedaling.  If you don't keep pedaling then you're going to roll back down the hill.  And, we're like right at the tip of the hill.  Guys, just keep pedaling!  We're so close.  Then, once you're over, then you're rolling down the hill and it feels so good." 
 
Siena (1-11, 1-1 MAAC) returns home to the friendly confines of the UHY Center in an attempt to catch some tailwinds.  It'll face major tests against the current top two teams in the conference in Fairfield (6-4, 2-0 MAAC) on Saturday and Quinnipiac (6-5, 2-0 MAAC) on Sunday. 

Both matches will also be broadcasted by ESPN+ with 2 p.m. start times.  Chris Watson and James Hosley will be on the call. 

Siena trails in the all-time series with Fairfield 51-18 and the Stags topped the Saints in their prior meeting in the MAAC Semifinals in four sets. 

The Saints lead Quinnipiac in the all-time series 18-9 and topped the Bobcats in four sets in their last meeting played last October in Hamden, CT. 

Leading the Saints in kills are junior outside hitter Sara Wagner (99 kills, 2.48 kills per set on .106 hitting percentage, junior right side Olga Sawinska (78 kills, 1.95 kills per set on a .130 hitting percentage) and redshirt junior outside hitter Anny Montano (55 kills, 2.04 kills per set on a .123 hitting percentage).

Siena has utilized a rotation of setters with senior Meghan Johnsson (106 assists, 3.43 assists per set) and freshman Oliwia Majtyka (98 assists, 3.16 assists per set).

Defensively, Toroslu leads the team with 32.0 total blocks while Sawinska is not far behind with 30.0 total blocks while sophomore libero Emily Wood leads the team in digs with 64.  Freshman Payton Hinkle has emerged recently with double-digit digs in each of the prior three matches with 37 digs at a 4.11 digs per set clip. 

The Stags sport five players with at least 55 kills thus far in 2023.  Junior outside hitter Mikayla Haut leads the team with 78 kills (2.17 kills per set) on a .155 hitting percentage.  Following her is sophomore outside hitter Allie Elliott (63 kills, 1.80 kills per set on a .193 hitting percentage) and graduate student outside hitter Janna Schlageter (58 kills, 1.66 kills per set on a .140 hitting percentage).

The Stags have primarily run a 6-2 system with junior setter Blakely Montgomery (170 assists, 5.00 assists per set) and sophomore Abby Jandro (142 assists, 4.18 assists per set). 

Senior libero Kyla Berg heads up the defensive with 127 digs (3.43 digs per set) while sophomore middle blocker Maya Walker protects the net with a league-best 43.0 total blocks.  Graduate student middle blocker Elle Shult ranks third in the MAAC with 32.0 total blocks.

The Bobcats are the defending MAAC Champions and have been led by the duo of Leilani-kai Giusta and sophomore outside hitter Yagmur Gunes, who rank first and third, respectively in the conference for kills per set.  Giusta has totaled 111 kills for a 3.70 kills per set rate on a .209 hitting percentage.  Gunes has a team-best 120 kills (3.33 kills per set) on a .169 hitting percentage.

Quinnipiac has run primarily through one setter in Damla Gunes, who leads the MAAC by a large margin with 374 assists.  The next closest in assists in the conference is Marist's Claire Lewis (266). 

The Bobcats have used a collective effort to defend the court with four players tallying at least 90 digs on the season. Graduate student outside hitter Aryanah Diaz (103 digs, 2.78 digs per set) and Gunes (101 digs, 2.81 digs per set) are the top two in the category.  Quinnipiac's top net protector has been senior middle blocker Lexi Morse to the point with 25.0 total blocks. 

Fans can also follow along via live stats and on-site social media updates by following Siena Volleyball for live updates on X (formerly Twitter) account @SienaVB.