Box Score 

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University volleyball team battled back from a first game loss to defeat Iona 3-1 (29-31, 35-33, 30-14, 30-23) this evening in an exciting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) battle at Alumni Hall. The Stags, winners of nine-straight over conference opponents, improve to 10-1 in the league and 13-10 overall while the Gaels fall to 7-3 in the MAAC and 10-13 on the year.

In an all-out effort, Fairfield had a strong night defensively as six Stags posted double-digit digs to help reach the match total 100. It is the fourth time this season that the Stags have recorded 100+ digs in a match. Fairfield held Iona to an attack percentage of .118 on the night while out-blocking the Gaels 12-8.

Sophomore Barbie Thistle (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) did a little bit of everything for Fairfield, nearly missing a triple-double. Thistle finished with 48 assists, 11 digs, and nine kills along with three total blocks. Sophomore Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) led the attack with 18 kills on an impressive .421 hitting. She also added nine total blocks, four digs, and tied a career high with four service aces.

The freshman class was key in the final three games for the Stags, stepping up to the challenge. Kayla Hughes (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) tallied eight kills, four digs, and two total blocks while Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) posted eight kills and seven digs.  Rounding out the group were Alex Lopez (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain),  who added 13 digs and a season-best seven kills, and Lauren Wagner (Eagan, Minn./Cretin-Derham), who tallied four digs and two total blocks.

Seniors Lindsey Lee (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph), Jazmin Pa'akaula (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph), and Kelly Oliver (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) in addition to junior Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Baptist Academy) each recorded double-digit digs. Lee finished with 19 digs and four kills while Pa'akaula had 16 digs and five assists. Oliver chipped in with eight kills and 12 digs while Higa had 12 digs and three assists.

The tone was set early as Iona overcame a deficit to pull within 22-21 on a block. Fairfield briefly held off the attack but the Gaels tied the game 26-26 on a kill by Alyssa Morales. The two teams would tie three more times before Iona used an attack error and a block to take game one, 31-29.

Fairfield jumped out to a 7-1 lead in game two to only to have Iona chip away. The Gaels tied the game 17-17 on a kill by Sarah Wiener but the Stags went on a 6-1 run to gain some ground. Iona came back once again, this time tying the game at 25-25. After trading points, the score rested at 30-30 after a kill by Kayla Hughes. Lauren Hughes would give Fairfield a 32-31 lead with a powerful kill to the back row, but the two teams would tie twice more. With the game on the line, Lee stepped service line and served the final two points of the game to even the match.

The Stags controlled in game three from nearly the start. With the match tied 5-5, Fairfield out-scored Iona 25-9 the rest of the way for the 30-14 victory. Fairfield carried the momentum from the third frame in the fourth game opening up an early 12-1 lead. The Gaels would cut the gap to 18-11 but Fairfield was able to stop the run on a kill by Kayla Hughes. Iona continued to creep back pulling within 26-22 but the Stags held on closing the game on a 4-1 run.

For Iona, Kendall Paulus had a match-high 19 kills while Wiener added 17 kills. Kristin Allain tallied 11 kills and seven digs. Libero Allison Nieters had an impressive 33 digs for the Gaels.

Fairfield heads to upstate New York this weekend to take on Niagara on Oct. 20 and Canisius on Oct. 21.