WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Fairfield University volleyball team picked up their first win of the season by downing Coastal Carolina 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-21, 27-29, 15-13) this evening to wrap up action at the UNC Wilmington Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire Classic. Junior Hadley Orr had a double-double with a career-high 16 kills and 14 digs. Setter Carsen Mata posted her second-straight double-double with 43 assists and 15 digs.

Senior Caitlin Stapleton notched double digits for the second straight match, finishing with 15 kills kills to go along with four total blocks and six digs. Stapleton was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts over four matches. 

Sophomore Megan O'Sullivan registered 11 kills, which tied a career-high, and six total blocks. Freshman Megan Theiller had 11 digs and six kills while senior libero Camille Coffey had a career-high 26 digs.

The two squads battled it out in the opening set, with 15 ties and six lead changes. Late in the stanza, Coastal Carolina had pulled ahead 23-21 when two quick points by Fairfield tied it up and prompted a Chanticleers timeout. Out of the break, Stapleton delivered back-to-back kills to give the Stags the 25-23 win.

Coastal Carolina used a 4-1 run early on in the second set to open up a 10-5 lead. The Chanticleers pushed out to a 20-12 advantage and went on to the 25-18 win to even the match at one set apiece.

Trailing 5-4 in the third set, a service ace by Mata tied it up. Stapleton followed with a block and two kills to make it a three-point set while a kill by Weaver capped off the 5-0 run. Fairfield extended its lead to 11-6 on a kill by Stapleton. Coastal Carolina countered with a 7-1 run to take a 13-12 lead. After exchanging points, the score rested at 15-15. That's when a kill by Orr sparked a quick 5-1 run. The Chanticleers narrowed the gap to 22-21 but the Stags rattled off the final three points for the 25-21 win.

In the fourth set, the Stags were holding a slight 7-5 advantage when the Chanticleers put together a 10-1 run. Theiller stopped it with a kill which ignited a 5-0 Fairfield run which was capped off with a block by her and O'Sullivan to pull the Stags within 15-14. Fairfield eventually tied it, 17-17, and the two teams would later become tied at 20-20 after back-to-back kills by Orr. The two teams continued to go point-for-point until the score rested at 27-27. That's when the Chanticleers' Gabriela Horvath came through with a pair of kills for the match-evening victory.

In keeping with the theme of the match, the deciding set was also a see-saw battle. Coastal Carolina was able to get the upper hand and opened up a 13-11 lead. But, kills by Stapleton and Theiller tied it up and prompted a Coastal Carolina timeout. After the stoppage, Stapleton gave Fairfield the lead with a kill while an attack error by the Chanticleers sent the Stags off with a win.

Fairfield (1-3) is back in action next weekend at the Columbia Invitational. The Stags face Stony Brook on September 5 followed by Bucknell at 10am and Columbia at 7pm on September 6.