LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Siena Volleyball team will step onto the courts of the UHY Center on Friday evening with an opportunity to do something the program hasn't done in nearly seven seasons—reach the .500 mark this late into a season.

The Saints (7-8 overall, 2-1 Metro) pushed closer to that mark this past Tuesday with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over their downstate rivals in Marist with sterling performances from junior outside hitter Gabrielle Wire and junior setting maestro Abby Edwards.

Wire put down 20 kills against just two errors and Edwards put forth a career-high 53 assists to move the Saints into a five-way tie for third place in the early season conference standings. 

Now, Siena turns its focus toward hosting two more Metro opponents in Manhattan (2-12, 1-2 Metro) on Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a Saturday matinee with Iona (8-7, 3-0 Metro) at 2 p.m. 

Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.  

Joe Lemery will be calling the play-by-play with James Hosley serving as the color analyst for both matches while RoYeon Lee serving as the sideline reporter for Friday's match and Hailey Deptula on sideline duties for Saturday's match. 

Live stats can be followed here and fans may follow the action with live video highlights, photos and updates on "X" @SienaVB.

Siena leads the all-time series against Manhattan 41-25 and has won three straight and seven of the past nine against the Jaspers. 

Second-year Siena head coach Tyler Kanelos led the Saints to pair of victories against Manhattan in his debut season, winning in five sets in Riverdale last Nov. 7 and earning a sweep in Loudonville last Oct. 4. 

Manhattan has changed coaches this season with Stephen F. Austin '14 grad Brooke Alverson taking the helm after serving as an Associate Head Coach with Fordham in 2025. 

The Jaspers have had a Top-4 defense in the conference on the net in terms of blocks with 105.0 total blocks produced thus far this season (2.11 per set).

Senior middle blocker Abby Morreale ranks eighth in the Metro in hitting percentage (.293) and third in blocks (53).

Manhattan topped Merrimack in four sets to open their conference schedule, but has since dropped their last two matches against Quinnipiac in four sets and Iona in three sets.

The Jaspers have struggled to get their offense going thus far, ranking 10^th in points per set (13.4), 10^th in hitting percentage (.130) and 11^th in assists (9.09 per set). 

Siena ranks fourth in points per set (15.72), third with a .207 hitting percentage and fifth in assists per set (10.81). 

On an individual basis, sophomore Mary Claire Deacy is fourth in kills (176) and 10^th in hitting percentage (.282). The Chicago, IL is coming off a 17-kill, 11-dig performance in the win against Marist on Tuesday. 

Redshirt senior libero Brooke Malek continues to marvel with her acrobatic plays roaming the court.

The UAlbany transfer leads the Metro with 257 digs (4.76 digs per set) and is already a three-time Metro Libero of the Week.

Edwards seems to have found her stride as well, racking up an average of 10.09 assists per set over her last three matches. 

Saturday's opponent Iona is one of only two remaining undefeated teams in conference play along with Fairfield at 3-0.

The Gaels rank toward the middle of the pack in the conference by being sixth in points per set (14.78), fifth in hitting percentage (.162) and sixth in assists per set (10.67). 

Iona has several top statistical leaders.

Ezzie Thompson ranks third in hitting percentage (.340), Julia Leonardo is third in kills with 181 and Jaylyn Simon has produced the fifth most assists per set (6.76).

The defense is strengthened by the net play of Buse Tinaz (ranks second in the Metro with 1.37 blocks per set) and Avery Gaume on the back line (4.07 digs per set). 

Siena leads the all-time series against Iona 37-22, however the Gaels have won five of the last seven meetings.

The teams split the series last year with the home team earning sweeps on both occasions.