Box Score 

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -  The Fairfield University volleyball team opened play at the Fremont Investment & Loan Invitational with a tough 3-0 (30-28, 30-19, 30-16) loss to host Cal State-Northridge this evening. The Stags fall to 21-12 on the season while the Matadors improve to 12-18.

Sophomore Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) had a team-high 10 kills along with five digs and two total blocks. With her two block assists, Mann pulled closer to Fairfield's single-season record and is now two shy of the standard of 109 block assists.

Senior Kelly Oliver (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) added 13 digs and eight kills while Barbie Thistle (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) chipped in with 22 assists and seven digs. Senior Jazmin Pa'akaula (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph) contributed with 11 digs.

The Matadors out-blocked the Stags 12.5-2.0 and held Fairfield to an attack percentage of .101. Northridge hit .289 for the match.

Fairfield came out strong in game one, keeping things close. Tied 11-11, Northridge went on a 6-2 run to gain some ground. The Matadors extended their lead to 25-15 on a block, but the Stags did not back down. Fairfield mounted impressive comeback out-scoring Northridge 12-3 to pull within 28-27 on a kill by Oliver. The Matadors stopped the run with a block but the Stags held off game point on a kill by rookie Lauren Wagner (Eagan, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall). Fairfield, however, could not stop Brittany Williams as she put home the kill for the win.

Northridge rolled in game two pushing out to a 20-9 lead and creating a deficit from which Fairfield could not recover. The Stags found themselves in a similar situation in game three as the Matadors opened up an surmountable 20-10 lead.

For Northridge, Val Kepler, an All-Big West honoree, led the way with 13 kills on .684 hitting and nine total blocks. Kayla Wright notched a double-double with 42 assists and 10 digs.

Fairfield will conclude its 2007 campaign tomorrow, Nov. 24, when it takes on Cal-State Fullerton at 4 p.m. (PST).