JERSEY CITY, NJ -- The Saint Peter's University women's volleyball team battled back to earn a tight third-set victory after dropping the first two sets against Siena, but could not continue the comeback as the Saints closed out the match in the fourth set for a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon.
The Peacocks, playing just their second match on the Run Baby Run Arena floor inside the renovated Yanitelli Center, once again contested a back-and-forth match following their four-set battle against Marist on Saturday.
Senior outside hitter Alanis Alvarado posted a double-double, recording 12 kills and 15 digs to lead the team in both categories. Freshman outside hitter Lily Barnhill had a career-high 11 kills as the second Peacock to register double-digit points in the match.
The Basics
Score: Siena 3, Saint Peter's (24-26, 18-25, 25-23, 18-25)
Records: Saint Peter's (1-15, 0-5) Siena (3-14, 3-3)
Location: Run Baby Run Arena | Jersey City, NJ
Set Summaries
- The Peacocks led by as many as four in the opening set, taking a 21-17 advantage late in that first frame thanks to a 4-0 service run from sophomore libero Alwen Pila.
- The Saints gained momentum late in the first set, going on a 7-1 run to earn themselves a pair of set points.
- Saint Peter's saved two set points, including one on a crucial block from Stephanie Rivera and Wildalys Soto to make it 24-24. Siena regained the lead with a side out and finished off the first set on its third set point to take it 26-24.
- Siena ran away with the second set, starting on a 6-1 run and leading by as many as 10 during the frame. Despite trailing 21-11, the Peacocks battled late in the set, going on a 5-0 service run from Charlee Cordts. The Saints still managed to take a two-set lead, closing out the second, 25-18.
- The Peacock momentum from late in the second set carried into the third, as Saint Peter's jumped out to an 8-4 lead courtesy of five kills from four different hitters.
- Despite a comeback from the Saints, who led by as many as two late in the third set, the Peacocks grabbed a hold of the frame after another 4-0 run during Pila's serve that put Saint Peter's up 23-20.
- A crucial kill from Barnhill at 23-22 brought the Peacocks to set point. They would later side out to earn the third-set victory, 25-23.
- Saint Peter's hung tough through the opening half of the fourth set, coming back to tie the Saints at 14-14 after trailing by as many as five during the frame. Siena would pull away late thanks to a pair of multi-point service runs, closing out the match with a 25-18 fourth-set victory.
Highlights
- The rookie Barnhill's career-high 11 kills bested her previous season-high four kills that she notched against Fairfield to open MAAC play on Sept. 19.
- For the fourth time this season and the second consecutive match, Alvarado recorded a double-double.
- Pila had a career-high three aces, bringing her team-high service ace count to 10 on the season.
- Rivera, the senior middle hitter, paced the Peacocks in hitting percentage (.286%), tallying eight kills on 21 swings. She also had a team-high two blocks in the match.
Up Next
The Saint Peter's homestand continues next weekend with 1 p.m. matches in Run Baby Run Arena against Fairfield (Saturday, Oct. 9) and Quinnipiac (Sunday, Oct. 10).
