Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Fairfield University volleyball team won its third straight match with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 26-24) victory at Rider University this afternoon. With the win, the Stags move to 12-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
 
Junior Brianna Dixion tallied a match-high 16 kills and hit .464 for the match. She also surpassed the 900-kill milestone bringing her career total to 914.
 
Senior Haililani Pokipala notched her third double-double of the season, finishing with 14 kills, tying a season-high, and 10 digs. She posted a career-best attack percentage of .448 with just one error in 29 attempts and set a season-best with three aces. Pokipala also moved one step closer to her 1,000th career dig, now needing just 13 more to become the 11th Stag in program history to complete the feat.
 
Setter Rachel Romansky had her tenth double-double of the year with 49 assists and 12 digs. Freshman Caitlin Stapleton had nine kills on .474 hitting with two total blocks while senior Kendal Dirkin added eight kills and two total blocks. Freshman Lindsay Weaver chipped in with five kills.
 
Defensively, junior Kara Reis tallied 20 digs while senior Lauren Balmert had 11 and Carsen Mata finished with eight.
 
Fairfield (15-9) trailed early in the first set, but went on an 8-2 run to overtake Rider (5-21; 3-11 MAAC). The Stags never looked back, closing out the set by recording five consecutive points in the 25-15 victory.
 
Fairfield never fell behind in the second set. With the score tied 15-15, Pokipala put the Stags on top with a kill and Dixion followed with back-to-back kills to force a Broncs timeout. After the break, Pokipala made it 19-15 with an ace. After a Rider kill, Dixion posted three straight kills to give Fairfield a comfortable 22-16 lead. Fairfield went on to the 25-19 win.
 
The two teams went back-and-forth in the third frame with 12 ties and four lead changes. Rider used a big 6-0 run to go on top, 19-16. Fairfield rallied back tying the match at 20-20 on an ace by Pokipala. Dixion later made it 24-23 with a kill but Jaclyn Webber held off match point with a kill. After a Broncs service error gave Fairfield the lead, Pokipala sealed the victory with a kill.
 
Fairfield will play three of its final four MAAC matches this week. The Stags host their final home match of the season on Wednesday, November 2 at 7pm when they welcome Marist College to Alumni Hall. Fairfield then travels to Manhattan College on November 5 and Saint Peter's on November 6. The Stags end the regular season on November 12 at Iona College.