LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Faced with a 2-1 deficit on Saturday afternoon in the MAAC Championship Semifinals, Fairfield University Volleyball stormed back to knock off Canisius in five frames to advance to Sunday's MAAC Championship Match at Siena's UHY Center. The Stags were led by 24 kills and 14 digs from MAAC Player of the Year KJ Johnson.
 
The top-seeded Stags improve to 23-8 overall and reach the MAAC Championship Match for the 20th time in program history. Fairfield vies for its 12th conference crown on Sunday at 4 p.m. against the winner of the semifinal currently in progress featuring second-seeded Rider and sixth-seeded Quinnipiac.

"That was a gritty match by both sides of the net. I'm proud of our entire team tonight as everyone contributed to the comeback win," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "Maddy, Noelle, Berg, Rich and Morgan all had a hand in that fourth and fifth set, contributing from the end line as well as coming up with some gritty defense when we needed it most."
 
In addition to erasing a 2-1 deficit in the match, the Stags trailed by a 21-18 count in the fourth set before running off seven of the set's final nine points to push the contest to a fifth stanza. In that deciding set, the Stags jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back, pushing the margin to a final tally of 15-5 to complete the comeback bid.
 
Johnson's 24 kills were highlighted by seven with the Stags on the comeback trail in the fourth set. Also on the outside, MAAC Rookie of the Year Mikayla Haut added 14 kills on a team-best .321 hitting. Luci Albertson had five of her eight kills in the final two sets from the right side, and middle hitters Emily Schillinger and Ella Gardiner chipped in seven and five finishers, respectively.
 
Manuela Nicolini dished out 47 assists while managing the offense to a .215 hitting percentage. The MAAC Setter of the Year also notched 14 digs to round out a double-double. She was spelled in two sets by Blakely Montgomery, who posted six assists and three digs.
 
At the net, the Stags piled up 10 blocks led by seven from Emily Schillinger. Nicolini and Johnson each got a piece for four rejections and Gardiner played a role in two stuffs.
 
In addition to 14 digs apiece for Johnson and Nicolini, Kyla Berg led the back row with 21 digs. Morgan Doll posted 19 from the back row and Noelle Carey contributed seven.
 
Rounding out Fairfield's scoring were five points from the end line. Doll served up a pair of aces with Johnson, Carey and Georgia Via each landing one winner.
 
Fourth-seeded Canisius sees its season come to an end with a record of 11-18 overall. Hannah Nelson led the Griffs with 17 kills. Ashley Kekeisen dished out 38 assists with 17 digs for Canisius, and Bree Long led all players with 28 digs from the libero spot.

"We survive to see another day and simply have to embrace the opportunity tomorrow and be grateful that we have given ourselves a chance after the intensity tonight," said Kress.
 
Visit FairfieldStags.com for more information on the 2021 MAAC Championship Match as it is finalized. The 4 p.m. contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.