Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – The Fairfield University volleyball team finished up action at the Duke Invitational with a tough 3-1 (25-16; 16-25; 23-25; 24-26) loss to the College of William & Mary this evening at Cameron Indoor. Sophomore Caitlin Stapleton notched a career-high 19 kills and a career-high nine digs to go along with three total blocks. Stapleton was named to the All-Tournament Team after collecting 34 kills (3.40/s), 14 digs (1.40/s), and four total blocks in three matches. 
 
Freshman Nicole Marzik registered her first collegiate double-double with 11 digs and 10 kills. Senior Brianna Dixion also recorded double-digit kills finishing with 10 on the day.
 
Senior Kara Reis posted 30 digs, marking the third time in her career in which she has tallied at least 30 digs. It also tied her for the fifth-best single match performance by a Stag. Junior Rachel Romansky finished with 44 assists, six kills on .400 hitting, and six digs.
 
The Stags took an early 10-5 lead in the first set which is all the breathing room they would need. The Tribe would pull within 14-12 but a kill by Marzik stopped the run and swung the momentum back to the Stags in the form of a 5-1 run. Fairfield cruised to the 25-16 victory.
 
William & Mary (1-2) got off to a solid start in the second set, taking a 9-3 advantage. The Tribe never looked back going on to take the frame, 25-16.
 
The third set was a bit closer at the outset. Trailing 9-7, Stapleton came through with a kill to return the serve to the Stags. Sophomore Camille Coffey stepped to the line and served six consecutive points to put Fairfield on top, 13-9. The Stag extended their lead to five points but the Tribe pulled within 16-15 on a kill by Molly Krull. Back-to-back kills by Lindsay Weaver and Romansky stopped the Tribe run. William & Mary mounted a comeback, tying the score, 20-20, on a block. The Stags regained a two-point advantage but the Tribe knotted the score at 22-22. After trading points, William & Mary put home a pair of kills for the 25-23 win.
 
In the fourth set, the Stags were trailing 11-7 when Stapleton came through with two kills and a block to cut the gap to a point. The Tribe, however, countered with a 6-1 run and moved out to a 21-15 lead. Fairfield clawed back, pulling within 21-19 on a kill by Stapleton. After William & Mary returned the lead to four points, a kill by Romansky sparked a 3-0 run to make it a 23-22 game and prompt a Tribe timeout. Out of the break, Marzik tied it up with a kill but William & Mary answered. Stapleton tied the score, 24-24, with a kill but the Tribe was able to fight off the Stags for the 26-24 victory.
 
Weaver finished with seven kills while Coffey had six digs. Freshman Maddie FitzPatrick had a kill and a pair of blocks.
 
Fairfield (0-3) returns to action next weekend when it travels to Storrs, Conn. for the UConn Classic. The Stags open action against Michigan State University on August 31 and face the host Huskies and Dartmouth College on September 1.