Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University volleyball team suffered a tough 3-0 (16-25, 18-25, 16-25) loss to defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champion Niagara University this afternoon in Alumni Hall. With the loss, the Stags fall to 9-4 in the league and 10-15 overall. The Purple Eagles improve to 13-1 in the MAAC and to 18-8 overall.

 

Sophomore Brianna Dixion (Long Beach, Calif.) posted a team-high eight kills on .312 hitting along with three digs for the Stags. Sophomore Kara Reis (Ramona, Calif.) had 15 digs while freshman Rachel Romansky (Denver, Colo.) finished with 24 assists, five digs and four kills.

 

Niagara came out swinging in the first set, opening up a 15-8 lead on a kill by Ellen Senf. Fairfield could not recover, falling 25-16.

 

In the second stanza, Fairfield jumped out to a 7-2 lead on consecutive kills by Dixion. The Purple Eagles stormed back with a 6-0 run, which included three kills by Amanda Wilken, to overtake the Stags, 8-7. Niagara later used a 7-1 run to put the set out of reach.

 

In the third set, Niagara opened up a 12-9 lead but the Stags made it a one-point contest on back-to-back kills by Dixion. The Purples Eagles took advantage of a series of Fairfield errors and opened up an 18-13 lead. Niagara closed out the match by recording six-straight points.

The loss was Fairfield's first to a MAAC opponent in Alumni Hall since the 2007 MAAC Championship in which the Stags fell to Siena. It is also the first loss to a league opponent during the regular season since the 2003 campaign. Including that 2003 loss, Fairfield is 55-3 overall against the MAAC in Alumni Hall over the last seven years.

 

Fairfield looks to regroup tomorrow, October 31, in a crucial league contest against Canisius College at 2pm in Alumni Hall. For fans that can't make it to Alumni Hall, LiveStats and Live Video are available for the match.