FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield women's tennis team came out on top against conference foe Marist College in a five hour dual this afternoon on the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts.  The Stags improve to 7-6 overall, 4-0 in the MAAC, with their 4-3 victory.  Senior Nikki Jackson clinched the match for the squad in a third-set tiebreaker, saving six match points.
 
The Stags got off to a rough start dropping the doubles point.  Allison Radde and Sharissa Ryan paired up in the two spot to give Fairfield their lone win in doubles play, 8-4.  The duos of Yajima/Koladzyn and Pirrello/Jackson struggled in their matchups against the Red Foxes at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, respectively.
 
Fairfield took control with the first two singles matches to finish.  Monica Yajima led the way in the one spot with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Karly Pang while Victoria Pirrello defeated Melissa Carlay at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-3.  Marist then regained their lead thanks to Joana Sun in the three spot, and Marielle Campbell in the four spot.  Campbell edged Carolina Koladzyn, 6-4, 6-4, followed by Radde falling short to Sun, 6-4, 6-3.  In a three set match at No. 2 singles, Sharissa Ryan went the distance to tie the dual at three apiece.  Ryan came back after dropping the first set to beat Kelsey Raynor, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. 
 
Fairfield's senior, Nikki Jackson, was last on the court as she took on Kaye Eastman at No. 6 singles.  Nikki breezed through the first set, 6-2, before falling, 4-6, in the second set.  With all eyes on court six, the third set proved to be an ongoing battle as Jackson defended a double, single, and triple match point, adding up to six total match points.  The senior exerted all she had in the third set tiebreaker to come out on top, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(6).
 
The Stags (7-6, 4-0 MAAC) improve their win streak to three matches and will host Niagara University in their next dual on Saturday, April 13 at 10am.  The Stags will close out the weekend on Sunday in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. as they face Manhattan College.
 
 
Doubles
#1. Sun/Pang (M) def. Yajima/Koladzyn (FFD) 8-1
#2. Ryan/Radde (FFD) def. Raynor/Tahir (M) 8-4
#3. Carlay/Eastman (M) def. Pirrello/Jackson (FFD) 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
 
Singles
#1. Monica Yajima (FFD) def. Karly Pang (M) 6-3, 6-0
#2. Sharissa Ryan (FFD) def. Kelsey Raynor (M) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
#3. Joana Sun (M) def. Allison Radde (FFD) 6-4, 6-3
#4. Marielle Campbell (M) def. Carolina Koladzyn (FFD) 6-4, 6-4
#5. Victoria Pirrello (FFD) def. Melissa Carlay (M) 6-1, 6-3
#6. Nikki Jackson (FFD) def. Kaye Eastman (M) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(6)
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 4, 3, 2, 6