Box Score


FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University volleyball team won its third-straight match and improved to 4-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this afternoon with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-8) victory over the Loyola University Maryland at Alumni Hall.
 
Senior Haililani Pokipala just missed a double-double, finishing with nine kills on .353 hitting and eight digs. Junior Brianna Dixion and freshman Caitlin Stapleton each added eight kills for the Stags.
 
Senior Kendal Dirkin had five kills and three block assists while setter Rachel Romansky finished with four total blocks, eight digs, 28 assists, and two kills. Junior libero Kara Reis turned in a match-high 16 digs along with a career-best two kills.
 
Fairfield (7-8; 4-1 MAAC) used a series of runs in the first set to pull away from Loyola (5-13; 2-3 MAAC). With the score tied at 10-10, the Stags posted five unanswered points. After Lauren Arnold pulled the Greyhounds within 17-13, Dixion delivered a kill and Carsen Mata served the final seven points of the set in the Stags' 25-13 in.
 
While Fairfield never trailed in the second set, it was a close battle. A kill by the Greyhounds Mindy Maloney pulled them within 23-22, but a kill by Dirkin put the Stags ahead to stay as Fairfield went on to the 25-22 win.
 
The Stags carried the momentum into the third set, hitting .450 with 12 kills as they put Loyola away, 25-8. Trailing 4-2, a kill by freshman Lindsay Weaver, three kills by Stapleton, and one from Reis gave Fairfield the upper hand. The Stags then went on an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 16-6. Fairfield closed out the match on a 9-1 run with six of those points coming off services by senior Amanda Steiger.
 
Mata finished with seven digs while Weaver had five kills on .400 hitting, four digs, and two blocks. Senior Lauren Balmert added three aces and four digs.
 
Fairfield hit .333 for the match while holding Loyola to a .032 attack percentage.
 
The Stags continue their six-match homestand tomorrow when they host Rider University at 2pm in Alumni Hall.