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October 28, 2015Defending Champs Serve Notice, Drill Rider in Three Sets
Siena avenged one of its two conference losses with a 3-0 (25-28, 25-28 and 25-18) thrashing of first place Rider Saturday in the ARC, moving within a half of game of the Broncs in the MAAC standings.
Haley Howell dished out 36 assists, and finished off her 10th double-double of the season with 10 digs.
Howell and the Saints had their way with the Broncs in every facet of the match.
How dominant were the Saints? Consider this: they trailed just twice all afternoon, 1-0 and 2-1 in the third set.
Energizing libero Kalehua Katagiri led all players with 20 digs to anchor a Siena (12-8, 8-2) defense that answered every question Rider asked. Erin Bies also reached double digits with 11 digs.
Briana Flagg led the free-swinging Saints with 14 kills on the outside, 12 coming in the final two sets. Darby Taylor provided balance with 11 kills when Flagg rotated to the backrow, including five in seven swings in the third set.
Sonja Vasovic got the Saints off to a flying start with five kills in the first set without an error, and Christina Monroe finished four of her five attacks in the opener.
Siena held a resounding 49-27 advantage in kills, a 60-52 edge in digs, and a .244-.071 margin in attack percentage.
Rider defeated Siena in five sets in Lawrenceville back in September, rallying from 13-11 down in the fifth to steal the win.
Today’s outcome was never in doubt.
The Saints are now a half game back of Rider (14-11, 9-2) in the MAAC standings, but own the tiebreaker and have a game in hand.
Siena has won four straight matches and 10 of its last 12 entering tomorrow afternoon’s contest 1 p.m. contest with Saint Peter’s here in Loudonville.
