Box Score In a match that featured 34 tie scores and 15 lead changes, the Stags fought hard but eventually fell to Siena 3-1 (22-25, 26-28, 25-20, 29-31). Fairfield had three players reach double figures in kills including Hadley Orr, Megan Theiller, and Marilyn Peizer.
Fairfield (6-9, 2-3 MAAC) had to battle back right from the start. Siena (6-10, 4-1 MAAC) earned the first six points of the match behind the serving of Haley Howell who recorded three aces during that span. The Saints would open up an early seven point lead after a Fairfield attack error and Fairfield fell behind 9-2. The Stags would answer with their own 8-4 run to cut the Siena lead to 13-10 after a kill by Maddie FitzPatrick. Fairfield could not keep the momentum falling behind 24-19 after an attack error. The Stags would see of three set points with three straight kills by Peizer, FitzPatrick, and Theiller to give Fairfield hope down by three. Siena would end the set after a Fairfield attack error.
Fairfield was the team to jump out early in the second. With the game tied at two, Orr served five straight points in a run that featured four Siena attack errors to put the Stags up 7-2. The Saints would eventually tie the game at 8-8 after a Fairfield serving error. Both teams would exchange points and find the score tied at 21-21. After an attack error by Siena and a kill by Theiller, Fairfield was two serves away from taking the second set. Siena would tie the game with a kill by Christina Monroe and a Fairfield attack error that knotted the score at 23-23. The Stags would get the first advantage after an error but a serving error by the Stags tied the score at 24-24. Fairfield would have the advantage again after a kill by Fitzpatrick that made the score 26-25. Siena would then finish the set on a 3-0 run capped off by a Meghann Wright kill.
That started Fairfield's offensive attack. The Stags would take five of the first six points in the third which featured two kills by Peizer and more great serving by Orr, who served for four straight points. The Stags, however would lose the lead and not regain advantage until the score was tied at 13-13. The score would then be tied five more times until both teams had 19 points. Fairfield would then end the set on a 6-1 run that featured three kills by Orr.
The fourth set would feature 13 ties and 20 kills by the Stags who had the first set point after another kill by Orr, who tied a career-high with 16. Fairfield who relinquish the lead after back-to-back attack errors and had to survive five match points, but who find a way to tie it every time. Peizer, Megan O'Sullivan, and Orr all had kills that would keep the match alive. But the Stags could not hold off the sixth match point of the set and an attack error ended their comeback bid.
For the game, Orr tied a match-high and a career-high with 16 kills and hit .270. Theiller finished with 12 kills and eight digs. Carsen Mata dished out 42 assists and had 12 digs for her 11th career double-double. Orr also had 11 digs to record her third double-double of the season. Fitzpatrick led the team with five block assists. The Stags hit .149 as a team and forced Siena to tally 28 errors, but could not hold off 11 aces on the match.
The Stags are back in action tomorrow when they host first-place Marist at 1pm.
