FAIRFIELD, Connecticut – The Marist volleyball team fell in four sets to the undefeated Fairfield Stags on Wednesday night. The Red Foxes were able to hand the Stags just their fourth set loss against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents this season in the first set, but Marist wasn't able to capitalize. The Stags took the next three sets to earn the victory.
With the loss, the Red Foxes fall to 11-13 on the season, and 9-5 in MAAC play. Meanwhile, Fairfield remains undefeated in conference play, improving to 14-0. The Stags are now 19-4 overall as well.
- The Stags took control early in set one, taking a 12-8 advantage to begin the match. However, the Red Foxes rattled off six straight points, capped by a fantastic service ace from Courtney Kasperski, to take a 14-12 lead. The Stags would even up the match at 17, and after trading a few points, crawled out to a 24-22. The Red Foxes refused to lose. as back-to-back kills from Megan Fergus sparked a 4-0 Marist run, and the Red Foxes came from behind to win the set 26-24.
- Fairfield flat out dominated set two. The Stags had only dropped three total sets to MAAC opponents this season prior to this match, and they clearly weren't happy to have dropped set one. Despite a very late push by Marist, Fairfield won the set 25-13.
- The Red Foxes hung in the third set up until the media timeout, trailing by just four points. Out of the timeout, the Stags were able to extend their lead to 21-15. Marist just wouldn't quit, as Fergus ignited an 9-3 run, with five kills and a block, to tie the set at 24. Fairfield would recover to take the next two points, and win the set 26-24.
- Marist struggled to recover after dropping a very tough set three, and the Stags jumped all over the opportunity in the fourth set. Fairfield's offense was absolutely unstoppable, as they took the set 25-12, earning a 3-1 match victory.
- Fergus led the Red Foxes' attack with 18 kills on a .222 hitting percentage. She also added three total blocks and three digs.
- Sophia Theriot totaled a match-high 18 digs, and made 30 receptions.
- Stephanie Stone played well in the middle for Marist, smacking six kills while adding six total blocks.
- Mayda Garcia tallied 16 kills for the Stags. Joelle Battles had 13 kills while Laura Seeger added 11.
- Fairfield hit .214 as a team, while Marist was held to just a .115 hitting percentage.
- Fergus is now just one kill away from taking over sole possession of fourth place on Marist's all-time kills list.
- Stone now has back-to-back matches with six total blocks, the second time she has done so this season.
- Kasperski accumulated 11 digs, reaching double-figure digs for the fifth time this season.
The Red Foxes will return to action this weekend for their two-game Buffalo trip. Marist will take on Niagara on Saturday at noon, and then play Canisius on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Red Foxes are currently within half a game of both Niagara and Canisius in the MAAC standings, so it will be a big weekend to say the least.
