Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Fairfield University volleyball team remained in a tie for first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21) victory at Niagara University this afternoon. With the win, the Stags improve to 12-2 in the league and 15-12 overall.

Two Stags posted double-doubles while several others were in double figures against Niagara (5-22, 3-12). Sophomore Alex Lopez (Fort Collins, Colo.) led the way with 19 kills, tying a career-high, and 18 digs for her tenth double-double of the year. Freshman setter Lauren Balmert (Cranberry Twp., Pa.) tallied her eighth double-double with 49 assists and 15 digs.

Junior Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif.) had an impressive day registering 16 kills on .484 hitting along with a season-high seven total blocks, four aces, and six digs. Mann now has 265 career block assists and is one away from tying former Stag Corrine Carlson for third all-time at Fairfield. Mann also is rapidly approaching her 1,000^th career kill with a current total of 977 to her credit.

Sophomore Lauren Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif.) chipped in on offense with 14 kills. Defensively, senior Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii) had a match-high 28 digs while senior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn.) added 11 digs. Freshman Haililani Pokipala (Honolulu, Hawaii) finished with 10 digs.

Niagara kept things close in the first two sets with a combined 21 ties and 10 lead changes, but Fairfield was able to hang on for the pair of victories. The Stags took the first set, in which they hit .390 with just one attack error, by a score of 25-22 before taking the second frame, 25-23.

Fairfield trailed 10-4 in the third stanza, but came back to take an 18-16 lead after a pair of Mann service aces. Niagara hung around and took advantage of a pair of Stags attack errors to open up a 24-22 lead. Fairfield held off match point and tied the set 24-24 on a kill by Mann. The Purple Eagles, however, were able to hold on for the 26-24 win closing things out on a pair of kills.

The fourth set was also close with 12 ties and four lead changes. With the score tied, 21-21, a block by Balmert and Mann put the Stags ahead to stay. Including the block, Fairfield closed the match out on a 4-0 run which also included two kills from Mann.

Fairfield out-blocked Niagara, 9-2. The Stags hit .240 for the match while holding the Purple Eagles to a .176 attack percentage.

Fairfield, which has captured at least a share of the MAAC Regular Season title in each of the last four seasons, is currently tied with Siena for first place in the conference with four matches remaining. The two teams shared the title last season and have met in the MAAC Championship final in each of the last three seasons.

Fairfield is back in action next weekend as it hosts Marist on Nov. 8 and Siena on Nov. 9 in a much-anticipated battle for the top spot in the MAAC. Both matches begin at 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall.

Saturday's contest against the Red Foxes has been designated a Dig For A Cure event which will help raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of breast cancer research. Sunday's match against Siena will be streamed live via www.FairfieldStags.com in conjunction with the B2 Network. For more information, click on the blue B2 link on the Stags homepage. In addition, the first 100 students to the match against the Saints will receive a free t-shirt.