Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Head Coach Alija Pittenger picked up her first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victory at the helm of the Stags as the Fairfield University volleyball team defeated Rider University 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-11, 25-11) in the conference opener for both schools at Alumni Hall this evening. 

With the win, Fairfield snaps a seven-match skid and improves to 3-9 overall while Rider falls to 7-4 on the year. The victory is the fourth consecutive MAAC opener that Fairfield has captured and the Stags are now 32-1 against conference opponents in Alumni Hall since 2003. 

Sophomore Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif./Mater Dei) led the way for the Stags with a match-high 19 kills and an attack percentage of .455. Setter Lauren Balmert (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) tallied her fourth double-double of the year with 35 assists and 11 digs while adding four kills on .444 hitting and four total blocks. 

Junior Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) posted nine kills and six total blocks. With her blocks, Mann surpassed Amy Boudreau for seventh all-time on Fairfield's career list and now has 250 total blocks. 

Senior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn./Mabel-Canton) had a strong night all-around, finishing with 10 digs, eight kills, six assists, and three total blocks. Freshman Kendal Dirkin (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park & River Forest) chipped in with seven kills on .429 hitting and three total blocks. 

The Stags hit .295 for the match while the Broncs hit just .068. Fairfield also out-blocked Rider, 9-7, and had seven service aces to the Broncs' three. 

Fairfield set the tone early, opening the first set on a 9-3 tear. The Stags extended their lead to 21-12 on an ace by Mann and went on to take the opening frame 25-15. Rider rebounded in the second set, taking a 10-5 lead to start. Fairfield would tie the set 16-16 on an ace by Balmert and take the lead on a kill by Dirkin, but the Broncs went on a 5-0 to gain some ground. Mann would cut the gap to 23-22 with a kill, but Rider held on for the 25-23 win. 

The Stags hit better than .400 in sets three and four which both resulted in 25-11 victories. 

Defensively, senior Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Baptist Academy) notched 15 digs while freshman Haililani Pokipala (Honolulu, Hawaii/Sacred Hearts Academy) had 11. 

For Rider, Katelyn Thompson had 11 kills while Amy Jeary led the defensive effort with 17 digs. Kristy Love added four blocks. 

Fairfield continues MAAC play tomorrow, Sept. 20, with a 12 p.m. match at Manhattan.