Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University volleyball team rallied from two sets down to overtake Canisius College 3-2 (19-25, 14-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-6) this afternoon. The Stags received a 17-kill performance by freshman Caitlin Stapleton as they improved to 10-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and 13-9 overall.
 
Canisius (9-14; 4-8 MAAC) dominated in the first two sets, putting Fairfield in an early hole. The Griffs had the Stags on the ropes in the third set leading by as much as five points. The Stags regrouped and stormed back, tying the third frame at 17-17 on a kill by senior Kendal Dirkin. A Canisius attack error and a kill by Camille Coffey gave Fairfield a two-point lead. With the score tied at 23-23, an attack error by the Griffs gave the Stags the lead. Samantha Good held off set point with a kill for the Griffs, but the Stags put it away on back-to-back kills by Stapleton and Coffey.
 
The Stags trailed 5-1 in the fourth set when Carsen Mata stepped to the line and served nine-straight points to give Fairfield the 10-5 advantage. The momentum swing was all the Stags needed as they went on to the 25-20 win and tied the match at two sets apiece.
 
In the deciding set, Fairfield jumped out to an 11-3 lead, a run that was capped off with a service ace by Haililani Pokipala. The Stags never looked back, going on to the 15-6 victory to win the match.
 
Stapleton converted 17 of her 29 swings for kills, setting a career best, while finishing with a .517 attack percentage for the match. She also tallied five total blocks. Freshman Lindsay Weaver also set a career-best with 14 kills while posting five total blocks.
 
The Stags also got a double-double effort from setter Rachel Romansky who tallied 54 assists and 12 digs for her tenth of the season. Dirkin notched 11 kills on .444 hitting while Coffey and Marilyn Peizer each added seven kills.
 
Defensively, libero Kara Reis notched a match-high 22 digs. Senior Lauren Balmert chipped in with 13 digs while Mata had 12 digs.
 
Fairfield closes out the month of October on the road travelling to Loyola University Maryland on October 29 and Rider University on October 30. The Stags will play their final home match of the year on November 2 at 7pm against Marist.