Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The Fairfield University volleyball team wasted no time in giving first year head coach Alija Pittenger her first victory as the Stags came from behind to nip Hofstra 3-2 (17-25, 23-25, 25-13, 25-23, 21-19) in their season opener at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational. 

Four Stags had double-doubles on the afternoon. Sophomore Alex Lopez (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) led the way with a career-best 18 kills and 17 digs while classmate Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) notched 14 kills and 10 digs. Senior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn./Mabel-Canton) recorded 12 kills and 12 digs. Rookie setter Lauren Balmert (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) had an impressive debut with 49 assists and 16 digs. 

Junior Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) had 12 kills and two total blocks while senior Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Baptist Academy) notched a match-high 19 digs and three aces. Freshman Alex Ferraco (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) contributed five kills and three total blocks in her first collegiate match. 

Hofstra opened the match by taking the first two sets but momentum swung in Fairfield's direction in the third set. With the match knotted 6-6 in that frame, the Stags used a quick 5-1 burst to open up an 11-7 gap. Fairfield continued to roll closing out the set on a 10-3 run for the victory. 

In the fourth set, Fairfield erased an early four-point deficit to tie the set 10-10. An ace by Higa on the serve gave the Stags their first lead of the frame. The two teams battled back and forth, tying 10 times before Mann and Hughes closed out the set with back-to-back kills.

Fairfield trailed 14-12 in the fifth and deciding set, but Lopez helped stave off match point with a kill and an ace to tie the match, 14-14. With the score tied, 19-19, Urbaniak put home a feed from Lopez to give the Stags a 20-19 lead. Lopez sealed the victory with a kill on the next serve.

The Stags will continue action at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational tomorrow, August 30, against Seton Hall. The match will begin at 12:30 p.m.