FLUSHING, N.Y. – The top-seeded Fairfield University women's tennis team defeated fourth-seeded Siena College this morning in the semifinals of the 2011 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship held at the USTA Bill Jean King National Tennis Center.

The two-time defending champions are looking for their third-straight MAAC Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth. The Stags will face Marist College tomorrow at 8:30am. It is the second consecutive season in which the two teams have faced each other in the MAAC Championship final. Last year, Fairfield topped the Red Foxes, 4-1.

Against the Saints this morning, the Stags (13-8) completed three singles matches, and won the doubles point before the match was decided. Monica Yajima won her ninth consecutive match by topping Siena's Jasleen Sandhu, 6-0, 6-1 at first singles. At No. 2 singles, Sharissa Ryan handled Danielle Crill in a decisive 6-0, 6 -1 match as well. Caroline Emhardt also finished her singles match and was victorious over Jessica Asselin, 6-0, 6-2, in the No. 4 spot.

In doubles play, Stag duo of Yajima and Emhardt defeated Sandhu and Nicole Ross, 8-3 in the top position, while Victoria Pirrello and Alyssa Ruiz took care of Elora Benfer and Brittany Filip in the third position.

After earning the necessary four points to clinch the victory, the rest of the on-going matches were left unfinished. Kristen Liu and Carly Holloway were at 2-6, 6-2 before the match was called at third singles, while Ruiz was up 6-0, 4-2, on Filip at No. 4 singles. Pirrello split her first two sets, as she and Ross were at 2-6, 6-0, and did not finish the third set. Liu paired with Ryan at No. 2 doubles against Crill and Holloway and were tied, 7-7, before the match was decided.

Prior to the start of the MAAC Championship, the MAAC All-Academic Team was announced. Alyssa Ruiz was named to the 2011 squad for the second straight year.

For the latest information about the event, visit MAAC Championship Central.

1. Yajima, Monica (FFDW) def. Sandhu, Jasleen (SIEW) 6-0, 6-1

2. Ryan, Sharissa (FFDW) def. Crill, Danielle (SIEW) 6-0, 6-1

3. Liu, Kristen (FFDW) vs. Holloway, Carly (SIEW) 2-6, 6-2, unfinished

4. Emhardt, Caroline (FFDW) def. Asselin, Jessica (SIEW) 6-0, 6-2

5. Ruiz, Alyssa (FFDW) vs. Filip, Brittany (SIEW) 6-0, 4-2, unfinished

6. Pirrello, Victoria (FFDW) vs. Ross, Nicole (SIEW) 2-6, 6-0, unfinished

1. Yajima, Monica/Emhardt, Caroline (FFDW) def. Sandhu, Jasleen/Ross, Nicole (SIEW) 8-3

2. Liu, Kristen/Ryan, Sharissa (FFDW) vs. Crill, Danielle/Holloway, Carly (SIEW) 7-7, unfinished

3. Pirrello, Victoria/Ruiz, Alyssa (FFDW) def. Benfer, Elora/Filip, Brittany (SIEW) 8-6