Marist Defeats Fairfield, 3-2, in 2009 MAAC Volleyball Semifinal
MAAC Sports
Buffalo, N.Y. - Fourth-seeded Marist College defeated top-seeded Fairfield University, 3-2, in the first semifinal match of the 2009 MAAC Volleyball Championship at the Koessler Athletic Center on the campus of Canisius College.
The Stags (19-12, 16-2 MAAC) took the first set, 25-21. The Red Foxes (18-12, 11-7 MAAC) rebounded to win the second set, 25-13. Fairfield responded and took the third set, 25-19. Marist, however, would not go quietly, earning a 25-23 win in the fourth set and then winning 15-11 in the fifth and deciding set to claim a spot in the championship game for the first time in school history.
Joanna Foss led the Red Foxes with 17 kills and nine digs, while Alexandra Schultze recorded 16 kills and seven digs. Dawn Jan registered 50 assists for Marist.
Katie Mann paced the Stags with 14 kills in her final collegiate match. Lauren Hughes added 13 kills, and Kara Reis finished the day with 22 digs.
Marist will play the winner of the second semifinal game this afternoon between second-seeded Niagara University and third-seeded Siena College on Monday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m., live on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. The winner of the 2009 MAAC Volleyball Championship will earn an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship.