LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The no. 1 ranked Marist volleyball team (25-6, 15-3) fell to second seed Siena in five sets in the MAAC Championship final on Nov. 22 at ESPN Wide World of Sports HP Field House. The Red Foxes dropped the first and third sets 25-20 and won the second set 25-21 before taking the fourth set 25-18 to force a winner take all final set. The 15-12 loss was the first fifth set loss for Marist all season.

The opening set featured seven ties and five lead changes. A kill by freshman Kelsey Ediger (Pearland, Texas) tied the score at 13, but the Saints took their final lead on a senior Rachel Stoklosa kill coming out of their timeout and concluded the set with four straight points. The Red Foxes found themselves down as much as 10-5 in the second set before ripping off a 12-3 run highlighted by two kills from senior Mackenzie Stephens (Holland, Mich.) and a service ace from senior Becca Jones (Arlington, Va.). Marist led by at least two points the rest of the frame, evening the match on a kill by junior Kelsey Lahey (Bowling Green, Ohio).

Siena led the entire third set despite a four-point Marist run with Jones serving. The Saints emerged with a five-point burst to put the set out of reach. The Red Foxes had their strongest start in the fourth set, snatching an early 5-1 lead with the help of three Stephens kills. Another 7-1 run gave Marist an 18-11 cushion for its largest lead of the match on its way to forcing a decisive fifth set. Lahey slammed seven kills in the fourth set and finished with a team-high 18 for the match.

Down by five again in the final set, Marist forced four attack errors on a six-point scoring spree for one last fight. The run, which included a service ace by senior Marisa Gilbert (Pflugerville, Texas), gave Marist an 11-10 lead. The Red Foxes would score just one more point however.

Sophomore Amanda Schlegel (Austin, Texas) posted her fourth straight double-double with 52 assists and 15 digs, while Stephens jumped for four blocks.

On defense for Siena, sophomore Bobbi Lin Kalama sprawled for 23 digs and senior Jacqueline Skeen tallied seven blocks. Stoklosa finished with 18 kills for the Saints.

The Red Foxes set single season program records with 25 wins overall, including 15 in the MAAC, and won the regular season title for the second consecutive year. Marist triumphed over no. 8 Iona in five sets in the quarterfinals of the tournament Nov. 20 before taking down no. 4 Fairfield 3-1 on Nov. 21 to advance to the final for the second straight season.

Final Tournament Results

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20

Game 1: #8 Iona 3, #9 Saint Peter's 0                             25-15, 25-13, 25-18     

Game 2: #7 Canisius 3, #10 Quinnipiac 1                      22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-10                            

Game 3: #4 Fairfield 3, #5 Rider 0                                   25-23, 25-14, 25-22                                          

Game 4: #3 Manhattan 3, #6 Niagara 2                         25-22, 25-18, 16-25, 28-30, 15-13                

Game 5: #2 Siena 3, #7 Canisius 0                                25-20, 25-20, 25-14  

Game 6: #1 Marist 3, - #8 Iona 2                                     24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 15-7                                              

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21

Game 7: #9 Saint Peter's 1, # 7 Canisius 3                    24-26, 25-20, 25-20, 25-20                        

Game 8: #10 Quinnipiac 2, # 8 Iona 3                             25-27, 25-15, 25-17, 25-16, 15-6

Game 9: #5 Rider 1, # 7 Canisius 3                                 26-24, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20  

Game 10: #6 Niagara 3, # 8 Iona 0                                  25-15, 25-23, 25-19

Game 11: #4 Fairfield 1, #1 Marist 3                                25-22, 25-23, 17-25, 25-20     

Game 12: #3 Manhattan 0, #2 Siena 3                            25-23, 25-16, 25-19                       

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Fifth Place Match: #7 Canisius 3, #6 Niagara 1               25-9, 16-25, 25-22, 25-19                             

Third Place Match: #4 Fairfield 3, #3 Manhattan 2          21-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-13             

Final: #1 Marist 2, #2 Siena 3                                          25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-12