VOLLEYBALL OVERCOMES 10-6 FIFTH SET DEFICIT TO DEFEAT SIENA IN SEASON OPENER

8/28/2009

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Senior setter Melissa Melcher served six straight points, including three aces, to help Sacramento State overcome a 10-6 fifth set deficit, and defeat Siena, 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 22-25, 25-12, 15-12), in the first round of the Syracuse Big Orange Volleyball Tournament Friday afternoon at the Manley Field House.

After a block by Syracuse’s Burgandy McCurty gave Siena a 10-6 lead in the fifth and final set, Melcher started what would become a 7-0 run with a kill from the setter position. The fourth-year senior then stepped to the service line and remained there until Siena finally ended the run and cut the Hornet lead to 13-11.

During the run, the Hornets used kills from senior Desiree Hoyum and sophomore Kelsey Elston, a Siena attack error and three aces from Melcher. Two of those aces came on back-to-back points which gave the Hornets a 12-10 lead. Siena got within 14-12 of Sacramento State’s lead, but freshman Janelle Currey’s team-high 18th kill ended a match that lasted two hours.

Despite being a true freshman, Currey, who is a local product from Rocklin, played the entire way finishing with 18 kills, 16 digs, a .289 hitting percentage (18-5-45) and four aces. Three of those kills came in a fifth set where the Hornets never had a lead until 11-10. Melcher also finished with four aces as the Hornets had 10 aces as a team compared to just three for Siena.

The match marked the season opener for both teams, and served as the tournament’s opening match. Sacramento State returns to action for the final day of the two-day, three-match tournament tomorrow when the team takes on New Hampshire (7 a.m. PDT) and host Syracuse (4 p.m. PDT). Sacramento State was playing a Siena team that has won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference each of the last four years, including an NCAA Tournament appearance last season.

Joining Currey with double figures in kills for the Hornets were Hoyum (15 kills, 11 digs) and sophomore Anna Schoener (10 kills, six blocks, .375 hitting percentage). Schoener showed little signs of rust despite missing the last two years due to injury, as her 10 kills matched a career high and she and had just one error in 24 total attacks. The .375 hitting percentage was a match best. Elston also had six blocks and Sacramento State finished with 11 as a team, including three from junior Maddison Thivierge.

Defensively, four Hornets had at least 11 digs, comprised of sophomore Breanne Menees (20), freshman Sydney Kordic (17), Currey (16) and Hoyum (11). Melcher tallied career highs in assists (49) and aces (4) to go along with seven digs.

Siena was led by Burgandy McCurty’s 24 kills and 18 digs and Aubrey Bobo added 14 kills and 17 digs.