LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – It is true what they say, all good things must come to an end.  Fairfield fought until the final point but was eventually defeated by the top-seeded Marist Red Foxes 3-1 (22-25, 23-25, 25-17, 20-25) in the semifinals.  The Stags had more kills (61) than Marist (48), more digs (105-103). 

“We are obviously disappointed with the result today,” Head Coach Todd Kress said.  :But I'm pleased with the growth I have seen in this team over the course of the year.”

Fairfield (18-12; 13-5 MAAC) jumped out to a 16-10 lead in the opening set but Marist (25-5; 15-3 MAAC) was able to claw their way back to eventually take the set 25-22.  Camille Coffey led the defense starting in the opening stanza with 12 digs, two more than any other player.  Coffey would finish the match with a program-record 36 digs.  The 105 digs is also the tenth most ever in a single match.

Carsen Mata had 11 assists in the opening set and would average 13.3 assists per set, and finish with 53.

“Carsen and Camille played new positions and yet were our foundation and our rock the entire year,” Coach Kress said.

The Stags took their only set in the third.  The Stags hit .293 and held Marist, who came in as the MAAC's leader in hitting percentage to -.024.  Caitlin Stapleton had eight kills in the winning set on just 12 swings.  Lindsay Weaver also had two and finished with eight.

“I was so impressed with how Cait and Lindsay stepped up the entire year and became leaders in the program,” Coach Kress said.  “They showed tremendous individual growth.”

Coffey finished with a program-record 36 digs.  Megan Theiller had 21 digs and 12 kills while Hadley Orr also had a double-double with 11 kills and 21 digs.  Stapleton led the team with 16 kills.

The Stags will play in their final match of the season tomorrow when they take on No.3 Manhattan in the third-place match. 

“Our future is in good hands with our underclassmen and that future starts tomorrow,” Kress said.  “We treat each match the same and we will be ready to go tomorrow.”

“We now know that tomorrow will be the last match that our heralded seniors play,” Kress continued.”  “Each of us will do our best to send them out on a positive note in their last match representing Fairfield University.”