Box Score

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - It was a rematch of last year's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship match as rivals Fairfield and Siena took to the court this afternoon. Unfortunately, the Stags were once against upset by the Saints, falling 3-0 (30-28, 30-24, 30-18), for Fairfield's first regular season conference loss in almost two years.

The last time Fairfield (4-9, 1-1 MAAC), the 2006 MAAC Regular Season champions, was defeated by a league opponent was on Oct. 22, 2005 at Canisius. The Stags had posted 25 consecutive regular season victories against conference opponents, including a perfect 18-0 mark last season.

Siena (6-3, 1-0 MAAC), the defending MAAC Tournament Champions, put forth a strong attack, hitting a collective .314 while Fairfield hit just .168. The Saints also held a 9-5 advantage in blocks.

Senior Kelly Oliver (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla), the reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Week, notched a match-high 13 kills along with eight digs. Classmate Lindsey Lee (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph), the reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs.

The opening frame proved to be a tough battle with 10 ties and three lead changes. Fairfield trailed 28-26, but managed to tie the score, 28-28, after blocks by freshman Kayla Hughes (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) and junior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn./Mabel-Canton). The Saints, however, were able to pull out the 30-28 win.

The Stags jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in game two, but the Saints clawed back. The two teams were deadlocked at 21-21 when Siena used a 9-3 run to close out the game. The Saints took game three by a score of 30-18, behind .424 hitting while holding the Stags to an attack percentage of just .062.

Hughes finished the day with five kills and a season-best five total blocks. Sophomore Barbie Thistle (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) had 30 assists and six digs while classmate Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) chipped in with five kills.

For Siena, Burgandy McCurty led the team with 13 kills while Aubrey Bobo and Nadiege Honore each had 11 kills.

Head Coach Jeff Werneke, who has won 94 matches at the helm of Fairfield, will attempt to become the program's career wins leader tomorrow, when the Stags head to Manhattan for a 2 p.m. start.