While the Siena Volleyball team was competitive in every set to begin the Tyler Kanelos era as new head coach of the program, the Saints could not come up with enough to finish down the stretch as it dropped the season opener 3-0 (20-25, 23-25, 21-25) to Rhode Island on Friday afternoon in the Stony Brook Invitational at Pritchard Gymnasium.

Siena (0-1) had opportunities in each set. The Saints trailed just 20-18 in the first set after a kill by freshman Mary Claire Deacy, but dropped five of the next seven points.

The Saints took a 21-16 advantage in set two after reeling off nine of 11 points on three kills by junior right side Doga Diraz, one kill each from by Deacy and Bethune Cookman transfer Elizabeth Phillips, an ace from freshman Autumn Willmott and blocks by Diraz and junior Ella Treasure. But, the Rams responded with a 9-2 run of their own sparked by three kills from Aerin Bowman.

In the third set, the teams traded points to a 18-18 draw. However, the Saints hurt themselves with four attack errors down the stretch.  Siena got as close as two points of the lead on back-to-back points from Phillips and Diraz before URI (1-0) took three of the last four points to secure the match. 

Rhode Island, who ranked 33^rd in the county last season in the NCAA in blocks, held a 13-7 advantage in total blocks. 

Diraz led Siena with 10 kills and five blocks, Alara Doganyuz had a strong debut in a green and gold jersey with team highs of 15 assists and 14 digs.

The action continues Saturday with Siena playing the host Seawolves at 3 p.m. followed by a Sunday morning tilt against Central Connecticut State at 10 a.m.