Stags Advance to MAAC Championship Finals with 3-1 Win Over Loyola
Nov 18, 2007
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University volleyball team downed Loyola College 3-1 (30-19, 30-22, 23-30, 30-20) to advance to its fourth-straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship Final this afternoon. The Stags were paced by double-double efforts by senior Kelly Oliver (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) and sophomore Barbie Thistle (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield).
Oliver tallied her 11th double-double of the year with 19 digs and 13 kills along with three total blocks. Thistle had her ninth double-double with 53 assists and 14 digs.
Sophomore Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) led the Fairfield attack with a match-high 18 kills on .424 hitting along with four total blocks. Junior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn./Mabel-Canton) was also in double digits with 14 kills in addition to two total blocks.
Rookie Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) and Lauren Wagner (Eagan, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) each added six digs and a block while seniors Lindsey Lee (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph) and Jazmin Pa'akaula (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph) both notched 16 digs.
In game one, Fairfield used a 9-0 run to pull ahead 14-4. Loyola cut the gap to 17-14 but the Stags were able to hold on for the win.
Fairfield trailed 14-9 in game two but came roaring back. Thistle tied the game 16-16 with a drop shot and Oliver followed with a kill to tip the score in Fairfield's favor. The Stags continued the push going up 25-22 on a block by Mann and Urbaniak.
The Stags had a tenuous 10-8 lead in the third game. The Greyhounds used an impressive 17-9 run to take a 25-19 advantage. Fairfield was able to cut the gap to 25-22 but Loyola held on for the win.
Game four belonged to the Stags as Fairfield opened up a 17-10 lead to start. Fairfield increased the lead to 21-14 and never looked back.
Fairfield, host of the 2007 MAAC Championship, will face top-seeded Siena tomorrow. It is the third consecutive year that Siena and Fairfield have met in the Championship match. Monday's match is set to begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
