Marist University Athletics

(21-12, 11-7 MAAC)

1st 2nd 3rd 4th F #3 Quinnipiac  25  22  25  26  3  #2 Marist 18  25  23  24  1 Box Score | Postgame Video

(13-17, 12-6 MAAC)

FAIRFIELD, Connecticut - In a four-set match where both sides made every touch count, the second seeded Marist volleyball team lost to no. 3 Quinnipiac, 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-23, 26-24), in the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship semifinal Nov. 19.

The Red Foxes ended their season with a 13-17 mark overall that included 12-6 in conference competition.

Freshman Nikki DeSerpa tied a season high by hammering 16 kills and junior Ashton Korona jumped for five total blocks in front. To end their careers in red and white, senior Lexi Millington dove for 16 digs and Amanda Schlegel swiped three service aces to lead the Red Foxes.

A service ace from sophomore Mackenzie O'Brien gave Marist a 6-3 edge early in the opening set, but the Bobcats roared back with a 12-6 run to build a lead they did not relinquish.

Hard hits from the service line propelled the Red Foxes in the second stanza, as a pair of aces from Schlegel and two kills from DeSerpa gave Marist the first four points. The score was tied 12 times and the lead changed hands four times. A 4-1 Red Fox scoring spree capped by a DeSerpa slam closed out the set and sent both teams into the locker rooms with the match tied at one.

Neither side led by more than three points in the pivotal third set. Marist showed some strong blocking, as Korona and DeSerpa teamed up to give the Red Foxes their first lead of the frame at 19-18. Seven of the next 11 points went to Quinnipiac however.

The momentum pendulum swayed in Marist's favor to begin the fourth set, forcing a Bobcats' timeout after a 7-2 Red Foxes run. An unforced error by Quinnipiac tied the score at 17. At 20-19, Marist earned a point that was taken back after Quinnipiac challenged a net fault and the call was overturned. The score was tied at 20 at that moment and deadlocked three more times before the Bobcats took the match and advanced to the championship final.

Individually for Quinnipiac, sophomore Kat Miller posted a double-double with team highs of 13 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Maria Pansari dished out 43 of Quinnipiac's 47 assists.

The Bobcats won back the serve multiple times to maintain their slim late leads, owning a .620 sideout percentage to Marist's mark of .580. The Red Foxes held the advantage in kills, digs and assists in the match however. 

Millington ended up second in the Marist record books and is currently the NCAA active career leader in service aces with 205. She was named MAAC Co-Libero of the Year this season and compiled the third most digs in a single season in Marist history (511). She was the lone Red Fox selected to the MAAC All-Championship Team.

Schlegel also etched her name all over the record books, finishing fourth all-time in assists (2,784). She had 247 assists and 79 digs in six postseason matches.

Freshman Megan Fergus led Marist on the attack in 2016 with 294 kills this season and was selected MAAC Rookie of the Year.