Siena University Athletics

Siena (8-11, 4-2 MAAC) secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Sacred Heart (4-14, 1-5 MAAC) at the William H. Pitt Center on Friday, with set scores of 25-19, 16-25, 26-24, and 28-26.

Doga Diraz led the Siena volleyball team with 16 kills and contributed significantly on defense with five blocks, tallying a total of 20.0 points.

Alara Doganyuz efficiently orchestrated the offense with 28 assists, while also adding two service aces.

Gabrielle Wire contributed 10 kills on 21 attempts, posting a hitting percentage of .381.

Berra Tok showcased her defensive skills with five total blocks and maintained a perfect hitting percentage, converting her only attempt into a kill.

Siena holds an 8-11 overall record with a 4-2 mark in the MAAC. Sacred Heart currently has a 4-14 overall record and stands at 1-5 in MAAC play.

First Set 
- Siena opened the set with two consecutive points, including two kills from Diraz, establishing an early lead at 2-0. 
- A key momentum shift occurred as the Saints capitalized on multiple Sacred Heart errors, leading to a 7-2 run, pushing their lead to 15-11. 
- Elizabeth Phillips and Diraz each contributed crucial kills as Siena extended their advantage to 18-11. 
- Wire's kill sealed the set for the Saints, ending the frame at 25-19.

Second Set 
- The Saints started strong, building a 5-1 lead with contributions from Wire and Diraz. 
- Sacred Heart rallied to tie at 8-8, sparked by Ryleigh Short's kills. 
- The Pioneers surged ahead 13-10, capitalizing on two service aces from Kelli Ennis. 
- Sacred Heart closed the set with a 7-3 run, with Lauren Hubert registering multiple kills, to secure the set 25-16.

Third Set 
- The Saints took an early lead with effective attacks by Wire, but Sacred Heart responded to tie the score 4-4. 
- Sacred Heart built momentum with a 5-1 run, leading 9-6 after a service ace by Hubert. 
- Siena closed the gap to 16-15, capitalizing on errors by the Pioneers and a kill from Diraz. 
- In a tense finish, the Saints secured the set 26-24, ending with a service ace from Phillips.

Fourth Set 
- Siena gained early momentum with a 4-2 lead after consecutive attack errors by Sacred Heart. 
- Sacred Heart rallied to tie the score at 13-13, fueled by multiple kills from Short. 
- Both teams exchanged points down the stretch, but Siena edged ahead 22-21 following an error by Emily Sawyer. 
- Mary Claire Deacy's back-to-back kills secured the set for the Saints at 28-26, concluding the match.

Looking ahead, the Saints will travel to face Fairfield at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, CT. The match is set for Saturday, October 11, with first serve at 4 p.m.