Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - Despite double-doubles from three Stags, the Fairfield University volleyball team suffered a tough non-conference loss at Fordham University this evening, falling to the Rams, 3-2 (30-28, 13-25, 26-24, 31-33, 13-15). 

Sophomore Alex Lopez (Fort Collins, Colo.) recorded her fifth double-double in her last six matches with 13 kills and a career-high 23 digs. Senior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn.) notched her fifth double-double of the year with 16 kills and 12 digs. She also added five assists and a season-high six blocks. Rookie Lauren Balmert (Cranberry Twp., Pa.) had her seventh double-double of the year with 49 assists and 11 digs. 

Junior Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif.) led all Stags with 17 kills on .325 hitting. Mann also had four total blocks, tying former Stag Nicole Arzillo for fifth all-time in career blocks (291).

The opening frame was the first of three marathon sets on the night. There were 21 ties and seven lead changes in the first set alone, leading up to Fairfield's 30-28 win. With the score tied 27-27, Lopez delivered a kill to set up game point, but a service error by the Stags allowed the Rams to tie the set. Fairfield held on for the win, however, taking advantage of a Fordham attack error while Mann followed with the winning service ace.

Fordham (14-14) came out strong in the second set, posting the impressive 25-13 win. The Stags regrouped in the third set, erasing a four-point deficit to tie the match 18-18 on a service ace by Balmert. The two teams continued to exchange points but the Rams regained the lead on a kill by Jenna Hart which made the score 24-23. The Stags held off match point and surged back with a 3-0 run to earn the 26-24 victory. 

While there were seven ties and six lead changes in the third set, there were 12 ties and five lead changes in the fourth frame, most of which came down the stretch. With the score resting at 31-31, the Rams' Katie Wells posted a kill to take the one-point lead and then secured the 33-31 victory on a setting error by the Stags. 

The fifth set was also a battle with seven ties. Fairfield (14-11) opened the stanza with a 4-0 lead, but the Rams came back tying the score 10-10 on a kill by Kailee May. The two teams would tie three times before Jolanda Gunning-Snowden gave Fordham a 14-13 advantage with a kill. She then put the match away with her 14th kill of the night on the ensuing serve. 

Defensively, senior Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii) tallied 18 digs while freshman Haililani Pokipala (Honolulu, Hawaii) tied a career high with 12 digs. Freshman Kendal Dirkin (Oak Park, Ill.) chipped in with five total blocks.

Fairfield out-blocked Fordham, 9-4. The Rams hit .267 on the night while the Stags hit just .215. Fordham also held a 7-3 advantage in service aces. Wells led the Rams with 22 kills on .541 hitting while Hart notched a double-double with 17 digs and 11 kills. May also recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 18 digs while Katherine Burrell had 68 assists and 19 digs for a double-double of her own.

It was the ninth five-set match for the Stags this season, the most since the 1990 campaign when they played 10 five-set matches. Fairfield is 5-4 in deciding set this season.

Fairfield resumes conference play this weekend with matches at Canisius on Nov. 1 and Niagara on Nov. 2.