FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Was there a really better way to finish their home careers? After winning 77 matches and two MAAC Championships the Class of 2015 led the Stags to a 3-1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-19, 25-23) victory over Canisius on Senior Day.  All six seniors had at least one kill, combining for 49 kills on the day.

Fairfield (17-11, 13-5 MAAC) started all seniors in their final home match and got immediate contribution.  Caitlin Stapleton broke the only tie of the first set with a kill to make the score 10-9.  Fairfield won the set with their defensive showing, totaling 20 digs with Megan Theiller leading the team with five.  Theiller only had one kill in the match, but was switched to a different role and helped out with 18 digs in the match.  Carsen Mata, who had her own cheering section at Alumni Hall, finished with 12 assists.  Canisius (8-19; 8-10 MAAC) had seven kills as a team.  Six members of Mata's family made the trip and showed their support with a 'Carsen Mata' banner in the cheering section.

The second game was the closest with Canisius winning on extra points.  The Golden Griffs hit a match-high .417 in the frame led by Kristen Bendy who had five kills on six swings.  The Stags only committed four errors on their side led by Lindsay Weaver who had three kills on six attempts.  The Stags held off match point three times in the set, but an attack error gave Canisius the final point.

The Stags got the lead for good in third after a Hadley Orr kill made the score 2-1.  Fairfield would not look back.  Weaver continued her hot hitting with a .750 hitting percentage on three kills.  Camille Coffey led all players in the third frame with six digs, while Marilyn Peizer chipped in with three kills.

Maddie FitzPatrick did not miss a shot in the final stanza with three kills on three swings.  A Cansius service error gave the Stags a potential match point after five lead changes in the frame.  The Golden Griffs had 13 service errors in the match.  Theiller had eight digs in the fourth, the most on the squad.

For the match, Stapleton led all players with 14 kills and 10 digs, her second-straight double-double.  FitzPatrick had the highest hitting percentage on the squad with .438 on nine kills. Weaver also chipped in with nine.  Coffey had a team-high 22 digs.  For Canisius, Emily Litwin led all players with 25 digs.

With Fairfield's win and Siena's win against Rider, the Stags secure the four-seed in the MAAC tournament.  The Stags will play Rider in the first round of the MAAC tournament on Thursday, November 20 at 2pm.  If the Stags advance, they will play in the MAAC Semifinals on Friday at 5pm.