FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University faced a deficit for the first time in 12 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matches this season, falling behind 1-0 to visiting Niagara on Saturday afternoon at the RecPlex. The Stags rallied to win the next two sets, then withstood a final push from the tenacious Purple Eagles to earn a 3-2 victory.
 
With the victory – which came by set scores of 2-25, 25-11, 25-10, 21-25 and 15-12 – the Stags stay unbeaten at 12-0 in the MAAC as a part of a 17-6 tally. Fairfield has won 13 consecutive matches overall. Niagara drops to 9-11 on the year and 6-5 in conference play.
 
The match marked the first time that the Stag lost a set to MAAC competition. Fairfield had won 34 consecutive sets, sweeping their first 11 conference outings plus the final frame of the Sept. 14 win over Bryant.
 
"That was a fun match to be a part of; how can you not appreciate the effort on both sides of the net? Fortunately, we made the plays necessary down the stretch to finish off the match," said Head Coach Todd Kress.
 
KJ Johnson led the attack for the Stags, hammering a career-high 28 kills from the outside. Johnson also posted a career high of 15 digs to complete her eighth double-double of the season.
 
Also on the outside, Mikayla Haut matched her season best with 12 kills. Middle hitters Emily Schillinger and Ella Gardiner added nine and eight kills, respectively, with Gardiner posting a team-best .438 hitting percentage. Luci Albertson put down five kills from the right side, and Joelle Battles recorded four.
 
The offense was engineered to a .240 hitting percentage by Manuela Nicolini, who dished out 55 assists and put over three kills of her own. Nicolini had 16 digs from the setter slot to wrap-up a double-double.
 
Johnson and Nicolini were two of five Stags to record double-digit digs. Georgia Via led the effort from the libero position with 21 digs, Julia Kallen notched 15 and Kyla Berg had 14 as Fairfield recorded a season-best 93 digs as a unit.
 
In the front row, Nicolini, Gardiner, and Schillinger each had a hand in four of the Stags' 10 team blocks. Johnson and Albertson played a part in two rejections, and Haut picked up a pair of solo stuffs.
 
All told, the Fairfield defense limited Niagara to a .107 hitting percentage.
 
Rounding out the scoring, Nicolini served up a pair of service aces, and Maddy Jerdonek landed one winner.
 
Up next, the Stags finish off their second straight three-match week with a visit from Canisius. First serve from the RecPlex is set for 1 p.m.
 
"Tomorrow is our sixth match in 12 days, and we need to come out purposeful in our mindset and gameplan to get through what has been the toughest stretch of our season thus far," Kress said.
 
The Golden Griffs, who lost a 3-0 decision to the Stag on Sept. 25 in Buffalo, are 6-14 overall and 6-5 in the MAAC after dropping a 3-1 match this afternoon at Quinnipiac.