Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University volleyball team mounted a huge fifth-set comeback to overtake Northeastern University, 3-2 (25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 16-25, 15-13) this afternoon in non-conference action at Alumni Hall. 

The Stags (14-10), who captured their third-straight match, took the first two sets and appeared to be in control at the start of the third. But in that stanza, the Huskies' Lauren DeTurk served four straight points to give Northeastern (13-9) an 8-5 lead. That was all the momentum the Huskies needed as they took the third set, 25-20, followed by a 25-16 victory in the fourth frame to force a deciding set.

In the fifth set, Northeastern appeared to have the match in hand after opening up an 8-3 lead but Fairfield did not back down. Sophomore Alex Lopez (Fort Collins, Colo.) stopped the Huskies run with a kill and freshman Lauren Balmert (Cranberry Twp., Pa.) followed with consecutive service aces to pull the Stags within 8-6. Senior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn.) would tie it up at 9-9 with a kill which sparked a 4-1 run by the Stags for the lead. Northeastern pulled within 14-13 on a kill by Britney Brown which held off match point but junior Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif.) answered with a kill for the victory.

Mann finished with 15 kills on .406 hitting along with two blocks. Lopez posted her eighth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs. Balmert and Urbaniak were both shy of double-doubles. Balmert finished with 36 assists and nine digs to go along with six kills on .500 hitting while Urbaniak had 14 digs and nine kills along with four total blocks.

Defensively, senior Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii) added 18 digs while freshman Kendal Dirkin (Oak Park, Ill.) added a career-high six total blocks.

For Northeastern, DeTurk led the way with 17 kills and 21 digs both for match highs. Brown just missed a triple-double with 13 kills, 22 assists, and eight digs. Jessica Tkachuk also had a double-double with 23 assists and 15 digs.

Both teams had a tough day on the attack as Northeastern hit .117 while Fairfield hit .138. The Stags out-blocked the Huskies, 8-.7

Fairfield will play its final non-conference match on Oct. 29 at Fordham. The Stags resume MAAC play Nov. 1-2 with matches at Canisius and Niagara.