WEST WINDSOR, N.J. -- The second-seeded Fairfield University women's tennis team defeated third-seeded Niagara University, 4-1, in the 2014 MAAC Tournament semifinal match at Mercer County Park this afternoon. The Stags advance to MAAC Championship final tomorrow.

Fairfield started off strong, winning the doubles point. At No. 1 doubles, standout duo Monica Yajima and Carolina Koladzyn downed the Purple Eagles' Sarah Hellstern and Paulina Velasquez, 8-0. The Stags clinched the point when pair Allison Radde and Kaila Nelson defeated Niagara's Jenna McCune and Ashley Ta, 8-1, in the No. 3 spot. At No. 2 doubles, the Purple Eagles' Iva Celan and Maria Ortiz were leading Fairfield duo Sharissa Ryan and Victoria Pirrello, 7-6, when the match was called.  

Fairfield made the match 2-0 when Yajima defeated Ta, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 1 singles. Niagara's Paulina Velazquez put the Purple Eagles on the board when she edged Koladzyn, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 4 singles. The score became 3-1 in favor of the Stags after Ryan clipped Hellstern, 6-0, 6-4, in the No. 2 spot. Fairfield clinched the match when Radde defeated Niagara's Brooke Briseno, 6-3, 7-5, at No. 4 singles. In the No. 5 spot, Ortiz was leading Nelson, 6-2, 6-5, while Celan and Pirrello were, 6-1, 4-6, 1-1, in the No. 6 spot. Both matches remained unfinished.

Fairfield (12-9; 7-1 MAAC) will face top-seeded Quinnipiac University (12-10; 8-0 MAAC) in the 2014 MAAC Championship final match tomorrow at 2pm.