Box Score

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The fifth-seeded Fairfield University volleyball team upended third-seeded Canisius College 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-21) this afternoon in the third place match of the 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Stags finish the season at 13-20 overall and 10-8 in the league.

 

In her final match as a Stag, senior Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif.) registered a season-high 15 kills, five digs, and two total blocks. She finishes her career with 925 kills, 362 digs, and 86 total blocks. Senior Hannah Segebart (Littleton, Colo.) ended her career with the Stags by notching six digs against Canisius (16-17).

 

Freshman Rachel Romansky (Denver, Colo.) and junior Haililani Pokipala (Honolulu, Hawaii) each tallied double-doubles while several other Stags were in double digits. Romansky tallied her ninth double-double of the season with 52 assists and 12 digs to go along with two blocks and four kills. Pokipala tallied her tenth double-double of the year with 15 kills and 12 digs.

 

Sophomore Brianna Dixion (Long Beach, Calif.) posted 15 kills, seven digs, four total blocks, and five assists on the day while junior Kendal Dirkin (Oak Park, Ill.) had 12 kills on .417 hitting and six total blocks, including three solo stops.

 

Defensively, freshman Hayley Moyer (Riverside, Calif.) picked up five digs and four total blocks while sophomore Kara Reis (Ramona, Calif.) had 17 digs. Sophomore Stephanie Cruz (Midland Park, N.J.) chipped in with 10 digs.

The Stags used a 7-2 run midway through the first set to tie the score, 18-18, and took its first lead of the day on a kill from Bethany Steiger (Cary, Ill.). Canisius pulled away, 23-21, but back-to-back blasts by Dixion tied the set. The Griffs, however, were able hold off the Stags and post the 25-23 win.

 

Fairfield was down by as much as five points in the second stanza when the Stags began to chip away at the Griffs' lead. Cruz served five-straight points for Fairfield allowing Romansky to give them a 17-16 lead with a kill. Canisius went on top, 23-20, when the Stags rallied once again. This time, Hughes capped off the set-tying run with a kill. After a Fairfield error, Hughes posted three-straight kills give Fairfield the 26-24 win.

 

Using the momentum from the second set, the Stags jumped out to a huge 20-12 lead in the third frame. Canisius mounted a comeback, pulling within 23-20 after a series of Fairfield errors. The Stags were able to hold on and come away with the 25-21 win.

 

The fourth set featured 12 ties and five lead changes. With the scored knotted at 21-21, Dirkin gave the Stags the lead with a kill. Pokipala followed with a kill of her own before Dirkin put the match away with a two kills and a block.

 

For Canisius, Danielle Brawn had a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs.

 

Fairfield will head to the MAAC Championship Awards banquet this evening. For the latest tournament information, visit MAAC Championship Central.