LOUDONVILLE, NY – Despite a career day from senior Olga Sawinska, Siena Volleyball dropped its' home conference match to new MAAC member Merrimack 3-0 (23-25, 16-25, 17-25) on Saturday afternoon at the UHY Center. 

Siena (4-16, 3-5 MAAC) played about as evenly of a first set with the Warriors (5-13, 4-4 MAAC) as the teams traded attacks in a highly efficient back-and-forth tussle.
The Saints smacked a .302 hitting percentage as a team with 18 kills against just two errors while the Warriors checked in at a .264 hitting percentage. 

Sawinska ripped through the Warriors' defense with seven kills in the set including a stretch in which the Polish native connected on three consecutive kills on feeds from Claire Isaksen to help the Saints get back in front 15-14. 

The teams drew even seven more times with a big help from Doga Diraz, who had three kills down the stretch.  Siena last led 22-21 on a Sawinska spike, but two Siena attack errors, a kill from the Warriors' Sophia DeBonis and Megan Thurlow gave Merrimack the set. 

Merrimack grabbed leads early in both sets two and three to hold on for the sweep. 

Salme Adeele Hollas had six kills and 12 digs while Isaksen had a team-high 18 assists, five digs and two blocks. 

Siena is back in action on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Quinnipiac (9-11, 6-2 MAAC). 

It is Sunglass Sunday.  The first 50 fans through the door will receive a free pair of Siena themed sunglasses courtesy of the team.