Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Junior Haililani Pokipala (Honolulu, Hawaii) posted a double-double and four other Stags were in double figures as the Fairfield University volleyball team downed Rider University 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-17) this afternoon. With the win, the Stags improve to 2-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

 

Pokipala tallied 12 kills on .333 hitting to go along with 13 digs for her second double-double of the year. Sophomore Brianna Dixion (Long Beach, Calif.) tallied a match-high 13 kills with a career best .579 attack percentage.

 

Defensively, junior Alex Lopez (Fort Collins, Colo.) had 16 digs while junior Lauren Balmert (Cranberry Twp., Pa.) had 10 digs. Freshman Rachel Romansky (Denver, Colo.) finished with 33 assists, five kills, and four digs.

 

In the first set, Rider chipped away at an early Fairfield lead and pulled within 12-10. A kill by Romansky on the very next play ignited a 10-2 run for the Stags and Fairfield was able to roll to the 25-18 win. The second stanza was similar to the opening frame. After the Broncs pulled within 11-10 on an ace, the Stags tallied six unanswered points to extend their lead. Fairfield was able to fight off Rider and notch the 25-19 win.

 

With the score tied 16-16 in the third set, senior Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif.) put home a set from Pokipala to spark an important 4-0 run. The Broncs stopped the spurt with a kill, but Romansky responded with a kill to start a 5-0 run to close out the match. Rookie Hayley Moyer (Riverside, Calif.) served the final four points of the set, three of which were aces.

 

The Stags hit a collective .315 for the match while holding the Broncs (1-10; 0-2 MAAC) to a .147 attack percentage.

 

Fairfield (3-9; 2-0 MAAC) takes a break from league play to travel to Hofstra on September 22. The Stags will play their first match of the season at Alumni Hall on September 25 as they host Manhattan at 2pm. Fairfield concludes the weekend at Siena on September 26.