FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Four Stags had double-doubles as the Fairfield University volleyball team came from behind to overtake Iona College 3-2 (27-29, 24-26, 25-21, 25-21, 15-5) this afternoon in Alumni Hall. With the victory, the Stags captured their fourth-straight and improve to 11-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and to 16-8 overall.
 
Defensively, senior libero Kara Reis tied the Fairfield single match record for digs, posting a career-high 34 digs on the day; Brandi Higa recorded 34 digs against Towson University in 2008. It is the second time this season and the fourth time in her career in which Reis has recorded 30 or more digs in a match.
 
Senior Brianna Dixion posted a double-double with 19 kills and a season-high 17 digs. Dixion also moved into a tie with Corrine Carlson for sixth all-time in career kills with 1,193. Junior Rachel Romansky posted her fifth consecutive double-double and 14th of the season with 45 assists and 11 digs.
 
Sophomore Carsen Mata had her first career double-double with a career-high 19 assists and 15 digs. She also added a career-high four kills. Freshman Nicole Marzik notched her second-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs.
 
Sophomore Caitlin Stapleton added 17 kills and six total blocks while junior Hayley Moyer turned in a career-high 16 kills on .375 hitting with four total blocks.
 
In the first set, Fairfield was trailing 24-21 when it mustered a comeback. The Stags received back-to-back-to-back kills from Stapleton, Mata, and Moyer to tie the frame. The two teams continued to battle it out trading points until a 27-27 tie. That's when Alicja Pawelec put the Gaels up with a kill and McKenzie Humann followed with a kill of her own to give Iona the 29-27 win.
 
Iona overcame a three-point deficit last in the second set to tie the score at 21-21 on a kill. Once again, the two teams traded points until the score rested at 24-24. An attack error by the Stags allowed the Gaels to pull ahead and Humann and Pawelec teamed up for a block to give Iona the 26-24 win.
 
Fairfield regrouped in the third set, storming out to an 8-2 lead. Iona cut the gap to two points, 18-16, but the Stags held them off for the 25-21 win. With the score tied, 4-4, in the fourth set, Fairfield went on an impressive 9-2 run to pull away from the Gaels. That was all the room the Stags needed as they went on to the 25-21 victory to force a fifth set.
 
In the deciding set, the Stags came out strong, surging out a 9-4 lead. Fairfield never looked back as the Stags posted a 15-5 victory to take the match.
 
Fairfield is off until next weekend when Rider University visits on November 3 and Loyola University Maryland visits on November 4.