Despite a career-high 21 kills from sophomore outside hitter Gabrielle Wire, the Siena Volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller against host Saint Francis (PA) 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 7-15) to open the Altoona Grand Red Flash Classic on Friday night at DeGol Arena. 

Wire, a transfer from UW-Milwaukee, more than doubled her previous high for kills in a single match. The Crystal Lake, Illinois native had 10 kills in the Saints' win against Central Connecticut State this past Sunday. 

On Friday night, Wire was key in helping Siena (1-3) force a fifth-and-deciding set by producing a team-best six kills in the fourth set alone. 

But, for the second time this season, the Saints dropped a hard-luck five-setter as the Red Flash (2-2) raced out to an 11-3 advantage including a 5-0 run with Korrin Burns serving behind the line.  Burns, the reigning NEC Player of the Week, lived up to the billing with a game-high 30 kills and hit on a .440 clip with Alexandra Sappin (55 assists) feeding her throughout the match.

For the Saints, junior right side Doga Diraz had another strong outing with 12 kills on a .333 hitting percentage while Ankara, Turkey native Alara Doganyuz provided a team-high 27 assists to go along with seven digs and an ace. 

SFU held a heavy 14-3 advantage in service aces as a team.

Siena comfortably took the first set 25-18 behind Diraz's three kills and the serves off the hand of Autumn Willmott, who helped engineer a key 5-0 Saints' run. 

The Red Flash answered back with a 4-0 run to reclaim the lead at 23-21 behind a pair of kills from Aaliyah Toppin and one kill each from Gwen Atkins and Sappia.  It closed on a kill by Burns.

With Siena leading 9-8 in the third set, Saint Francis took back the lead for good on a 4-0 run sparked by a pair of aces from Sappia and kills from Burns and Kori McClure.

Siena battled back in the fourth set by winning five of the final seven points in the set with kills coming from Wire and Diraz. 

Burns had three kills and two aces in the fifth set to help seal it for SFU. 

Next up, Siena plays a doubleheader on Saturday in the Altoona Grand Red Flash Classic at DeGol Arena with Lafayette (1-3) set for a 2 p.m. start followed by a match up with Youngstown State (2-2) at 5 p.m.