FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Everyone contributed.  It was that simple.  The Stag bench accounted for 18 points and nine players recorded at least one kill in a home sweep of Niagara (25-18, 34-32, 25-19) on Saturday. 

“The production off of our bench was tremendous today,” Head Coach Todd Kress said.  “Marilyn Peizer, Grace Simmons, and Maddie FitzPatrick all stepped up and were a huge part of today's team win.”

Fairfield (16-11, 12-5 MAAC) had their best offensive showing in the first game, hitting .370 against a Niagara (12-16; 8-9 MAAC) who had held Marist to a .039 hitting percentage one match prior.  Carsen Mata got everyone involved with Megan Theiller leading all players with five kills on the outside, Caitlin Stapleton and Marilyn Peizer tallying three kills on the right side, and Megan O'Sullivan and Lindsay Weaver adding in three kills in the middle.  Mata finished with 14 assists, as Fairfield finished with 14 kills.

Peizer came up big in a wild and long second game.  The senior forced an extra point on three different occasions in the stanza and led the team with five kills.  Stapleton finished with nine digs in the second stanza alone, which tied a career-high for an entire match.  FitzPatrick gave a spark off the bench with two kills on three swings and putting in a block.  Mata finished with 14 assists in the set.

Simmons was the one who stepped up in the third game, registering 2.5 points on two kills and a block assist.  Simmons' first kill was from the back row.  Camille Coffey had seven digs in the third game, as Fairfield held the 23-17 edge in digs in the frame. 

Peizer led the team with 11 kills, the most she has had in a match since October 5.  Theiller tied a career-high with two solo blocks to go along with 10 kills.  Bella Guanciale even got into the scoring column with the match's final kill.  Guanciale actually has a .625 hitting percentage this season.

Stapleton had the most digs of her career with 15 in the match.

Niagara, who came into the match as one of the most balanced teams in the league continued with that way, having five players with four or more kills.

The Stags will close out their regular season schedule tomorrow when they host Canisius College on Senior Day.  Before the match, the program will honor one of the most successful senior classes in program history on their final match at Alumni Hall.

“We look forward to tomorrow and celebrating our Senior Class,” Coach Kress said.  “They have meant so much to this program and the entire university community.”

First serve is at 1pm.