Box Score

DURHAM, N.H.  – Senior Kendal Dirkin posted a career-high 15 kills while two other Stags notched double-doubles to help power the Fairfield University volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-16, 28-26, 28-30, 25-21) victory over the University of New Hampshire this afternoon at the Holly Young Invitational.

Dirkin hit .600 for the match and also tallied three blocks. Setter Rachel Romansky had her second consecutive double-double with 49 assists and 11 digs while rookie Camille Coffey notched her fourth double-double with a career-high 17 kills and 15 digs.

Freshman Caitlin Stapleton had 12 kills while junior Brianna Dixion finished with 10 kills. Defensively, junior Kara Reis had a season-best 18 digs, while freshman Carsen Mata finished with 14 digs.

In the first set, Stapleton ignited an 11-4 run with a kill as the Stags surged out to a 24-14 lead. Three serves later, Stapleton won it for Fairfield with a kill. In the second stanza, the Stags trailed by as much as seven points as they roared back with a 7-2 run to pull within 22-20 on a kill by Dixion. The Wildcats returned the lead to three points, 24-21, but Fairfield rallied once again. Dirkin got it started with a kill and a pair of UNH errors resulted in a 24-24 tie. With the score tied at 26-26, another Wildcats error gave Fairfield the lead and Coffey put it away with a kill.

UNH opened the third frame by jumping out to a 7-2 lead but a 6-1 run by the Stags tied it up. The two teams battled it out with the Wildcats pulling ahead, 18-15, on an ace. The Stags did not relent as Romansky came through with a kill to tie the score and Coffey made it 19-18 with a kill. Fairfield gained a 24-22 advantage, but UNH held off set point. The Wildcats would eke out a 30-28 victory to force a fourth set. The fourth set was also close, but after Fairfield opened up an 18-14 advantage, they did not look back, going on to the 25-21 victory.

The Stags (3-6) finish competition at the Holly Young Invitational with a 4:30pm match against Indiana State. Live Stats are available by visiting www.UNHWildcats.com.