Weekly Notes

The Stags will play at Alumni Hall for the first time this season as they open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action this weekend. Fairfield hosts Canisius on September 17 at 2pm followed by Niagara on Sunday at 2pm.

On the Web: Live Stats are available for all Stags home matches this season. Live Video will be available for selected contests throughout the season, including both matches this weekend

Fairfield (3-7; 0-0 MAAC) vs. Canisius (4-6; 0-0 MAAC): Fairfield and Canisius will meet for the first time since the third-place match of the 2010 MAAC Championship. The Stags edged the Griffs, 3-1, in that contest for their first win of the season against Canisius. Junior Brianna Dixion averages 3.33 kills per set against the Griffs with 18 total blocks in 18 sets against them. For her career against Canisius, senior Haililani Pokipala is averaging 2.54 kills and 2.58 digs per set with 12 aces. Fairfield is 20-9 all-time against Canisius and has taken three of the last five meetings.

Fairfield vs. Niagara (5-6; 0-0 MAAC): The two-time defending MAAC Champion Purple Eagles took three matches from the Stags last season, including a MAAC semifinal victory. Niagara's victories in 2010 snapped a 15-year, 20-match losing streak to the Stags. Fairfield is 22-6 all-time against the Purple Eagles. Junior Brianna Dixion is averaging 4.81 kills and 3.55 digs per set against Niagara and has collected nine blocks against them. Rachel Romansky posted 109 assists (9.08/s), 42 digs, and 11 kills in three matches against Niagara.

Fairfield in Home Openers: Dating back to 1995, the Stags are 13-3 in home openers. In 2009, Fordham handed the Stags their first loss in a home opener since Sept. 25, 2005 against Albany.

Fairfield in MAAC Openers: Fairfield has been victorious in its last six MAAC openers. The last time the Stags dropped a MAAC opener was in 2004, falling to Rider 3-2. Since 1993, the Stags are 14-4 in MAAC openers.

Approaching 1,000 Digs: Junior libero Kara Reis enters the weekend with 982 career digs, 18 away from reaching the century mark. Reis will become the tenth Stag in program history to reach the milestone. The last Stag to hit 1,000 digs was Brandi Higa in 2008. The all-time digs record belongs to Lindsay Lee who tallied 1,674 by the end of her senior campaign in 2007.