FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Volleyball will begin the 2017 postseason this Saturday, Nov. 18 on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall in the semifinal round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship. The top-seeded Stags will host fourth-seeded Marist as they eye their third consecutive MAAC Championship and NCAA postseason berth. First serve in the Stags' semifinal match is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 
Fairfield (23-6) earned the top seed in the MAAC Championship following its second straight 18-0 MAAC regular season. In doing so, the Stags have also tied their own MAAC record with 49 consecutive wins (including postseason and non-conference meetings) over conference opponents – the longest active streak in the nation. Fairfield previous defeated 49 straight MAAC foes from 1997-2001 during the run of five straight MAAC titles.
 
In the regular season, the Stags earned a 3-0 sweep of Marist in Poughkeepsie on Oct. 14 and took a 3-1 decision over the Red Foxes at Alumni Hall on Nov. 1. Fairfield did not learn its opponent until late Friday night when Marist (15-15, 11-7 MAAC) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to upend Rider (17-15, 10-8 MAAC) in a five-set clash in Friday's opening round.
 
On the opposite half of the bracket, third-seeded Iona (15-17, 11-7 MAAC) outlasted Quinnipiac (10-22, 9-9 MAAC) in five sets in the tournament opener on Friday evening and moves on to meet second-seeded Niagara (18-9, 14-4 MAAC) in the second semifinal on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. The Purple Eagles split with the Gaels during the regular season.
 
The 2017 MAAC Championship Match is slated for Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. All of this weekend's action from George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall will be broadcast live on ESPN3 in a joint production of the Stags Sports Network and the Fairfield University Media Center.
 
The winner of the 2017 MAAC Championship will earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Championship. The full 64-team field to the national postseason will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.