Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University volleyball team fell to two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion Niagara University 3-0 (21-25, 15-25, 23-25) this afternoon at Alumni Hall.
 
Freshman Camille Coffey and junior Brianna Dixion each turned in seven kills and two total blocks on the afternoon. Coffey also had 10 digs, marking the seventh-straight match in which the rookie has posted double-digit digs.
 
Setter Rachel Romansky was just shy of a double-double, finishing with 24 assists and nine digs to go along with five kills. Defensively, junior Kara Reis tallied 19 digs while senior Lauren Balmert had 11 digs.
 
The first set was close with 10 ties and five lead changes. Romansky put the Stags up, 20-19, with a kill, but Ellen Senf retied it with a kill. Senf's kill sparked a 5-1 run for the Purple Eagles who went on to the 25-21 win.
 
Niagara (7-7; 2-0 MAAC) posted eight unanswered points to start the second set and pulled out to a 15-2 advantage on a kill by Senf and forced a Fairfield timeout. Out of the break, a kill by senior Kendal Dirkin ignited a 5-0 run for the Stags. Kathy Bibler stopped the run with a kill and the Purple Eagles rolled to a 25-15 win.
 
Fairfield (4-8; 1-1 MAAC) battled back from a three-point deficit in the third set to tie it 19-19 on a kill by Dirkin. With the score tied 21-21 after a Dixion kill, Senf delivered of her own to put Niagara on top. Trailing 24-21, the Stags held off match-point three times before Senf put it away with her 17th kill of the day.
 
The Stags return to action on September 23 when they travel to MAAC foe Marist College for a 7pm match. Fairfield then heads to Siena on September 25 before returning to Alumni Hall on October 1.