Nov. 3, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield volleyball team continued to pound away at its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponents, dominating Rider 3-0 (30-19, 30-13, 30-24) this evening in Alumni Hall. The Stags (18-6, 15-0 MAAC), who are as sharp as ever, increased their winning streak to 15 matches and have knocked down their last nine opponents' by 3-0 scores.
Fairfield's current winning streak is the fifth-longest active winning streak among NCAA Division I schools this season.
Juniors Lindsey Lee (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph) and Kelly Oliver (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) led the way with double-doubles. Lee, who hit .519 for the match, posted a match-high 17 kills and 10 digs for her 15th double-double of the year. Oliver tallied 11 kills, on .423 hitting, and a match-high 12 digs for her second double-double of the season.
Freshman Barbie Thistle (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) added 33 assists, seven kills and three digs while classmate Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) had five kills and four total blocks.
Defensively, sophomore Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Baptist Academy) chipped in with nine digs while junior Jazmin Pa'akaula (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph) had eight. Pa'akaula also had four kills and three assists.
Senior Natalie Barba (Austin, Texas/Westwood) added three block assists to move within seven of tying Fairfield's career record of 284 held by Laura Gleason. Barba is also just two total blocks away from tying Corrine Carlson for second place on the all-time list.
For Rider, Megan Smith tallied 10 kills while Lacey Johnson had nine kills. Libero Amy Jeary had 11 digs while Katrina Stehle had four blocks and seven digs.
The Stags hit .306 on the night while Rider hit just .106. Fairfield held a 51-28 advantage in kills and out-blocked Rider 7-5.5.
Fairfield can potentially clinch its third-straight MAAC Regular Season Championship tomorrow, Nov. 4, when the Stags host Manhattan in its final home match of the season. Prior to the start of the 2 p.m. match, the Fairfield will honor its two graduating seniors.
