Fairfield Comes Back to Defeat Manhattan 3-2 in 3rd Place Match
MAAC Sports
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Fourth seeded Fairfield University defeated third seeded Manhattan College 3-2 coming from a 2-0 deficit in the third place of the 2014 MAAC Volleyball Championship at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Manhattan won the first set over Fairfield 25-21. The Jaspers never trailed in the set, getting out to an early lead 9-5 lead on a kill from Claire Van Dyk. The Stags would manage to tie the set four times, with the last tie coming at 12-12 after a service error by the Jaspers. Van Dyk led the Jaspers with four kills in the opening set, while Caitlyn Stapleton had a set high seven for the Stags.
The Stags bounced back early in the second frame gaining an early 7-3 lead before the Jaspers would tie up the set at 10-10. A service ace by Van Dyk would give Manhattan the 11-10 edge and final lead change of the set. The Jaspers would outscore the Stags 14-9 to finish the set with a 25-19 win and 2-0 lead in the match. Van Dyk and Malia McGuinncess led the Jaspers with three kills each, while Jasper setter Jade Gray assisted on all nine Manhattan kills in the set.
The third set was all Fairfield from the beginning with the Stag gaining early leads of 4-1 and 9-4 before the Jaspers slowly pulled back in the set. From points 10 to 16, the set would see six ties and four lead changes until the Stags pulled away outscoring the Jaspers 9-3 and bounce back to take set three 25-19 and keep its season alive. A five kill each strong attack effort from Lindsay Weaver and Marilyn Peizer led the Stags to the set victory.
Manhattan quickly jumped out to an 11-7 lead over Fairfield in the fourth set. The Stags would bounce back and take the lead in the set at 13-12 on a kill from Stapleton. The Stags would not relinquish the lead for the set and would take the fourth set 25-20 to force the match into a fifth and deciding set.
In the final set, there were seven total ties as both teams battled to an even 12-12. A Megan Theiller kill, would give the Stags the one point edge and Fairfield would go on to take the set 15-13, and the match 3-2
Stapleton finished with a match high 22 kills for the Stags and Van Dyk led the Jaspers with 15 kills and 15 digs.
Fairfield concludes the 2014 season with a 19-12 record, while Manhattan’s campaign ends at 21-13.