Fairfield & Iona Advance to 2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship Final

11/18/2017 9:03:55 PM

No. 1 Fairfield University – 3 | No. 4 Marist College – 0 | (25-22, 25-22, 25-15)
2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship Semifinals
Alumni Hall | Host: Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT

No. 1 Fairfield University (24-6, 18-0 MAAC) defeated No. 4 Marist College (15-16, 11-7 MAAC), in straight-sets to advance to its third-straight MAAC Volleyball Championship match. The Stags face Iona College in the 2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship final on Sunday, November 19, at 2 p.m. from Alumni Hall on the campus of Fairfield University.

Fairfield Notes:

Today’s victory marked the Stags’ 50^th in a row against a conference opponent (including postseason and non-conference meetings), a new MAAC volleyball record. Fairfield, broke its previous mark of 49-straight (1997-01). The current mark is the longest active streak against conference opponents in the nation.
The Stags return to the MAAC Volleyball Championship match for the 11^th time in the last 14 years. Over that span, Fairfield has claimed four MAAC Championships.
Fairfield earned its 20^th-straight win, a streak that dates to September 12. The Stags have won in straight-sets, 15 times this season. Fairfield has won 11 of its last 12 matches in straight-sets, including five in a row.
MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree, middle blocker Luci Albertson recorded 10 kills, hit a match-high .533, and added six blocks.
2017 MAAC Player of the Year, senior outside hitter Skyler Day notched a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs. The senior hit .231 in the win.
All-MAAC Second Team member, senior outside hitter Megan Theiller registered a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
2017 MAAC Setter of the Year, sophomore Manuela Nicolini dished out a match-high 45 assists, tallied six blocks, and five digs.
Junior right side Kaitlyn Fisher hit .312 and added nine kills.

Marist Notes:

The Red Foxes season ended after their fifth consecutive appearance in the MAAC Volleyball Championship.
All-MAAC First Team selection, sophomore outside hitter Nikki DeSerpa compiled seven kills and 14 digs.
Sophomore right side Megan Fergus tallied nine kills, while sophomore middle blocker Stephanie Stone hit a match-high .714, and registered five kills.
Junior setter Taylor van der Biezen finished the match with a team-high 26 assists.

No. 3 Iona College – 3 | No. 2 Niagara University – 0 | (25-23, 25-18, 26-24)
2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship Semifinals
Alumni Hall | Host: Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT

No. 3 Iona College (16-17, 11-7 MAAC) advanced to the 2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship match after sweeping No. 2 Niagara University (18-10, 14-4 MAAC). The Gaels take on Fairfield in the 2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship match on Sunday, November 19, at 2 p.m. from Alumni Hall on the campus of Fairfield University.

Iona Notes:

The Gaels advance to the MAAC Volleyball Championship match for the third time in program history, and first since 2010. Iona captured its lone MAAC Volleyball Championship in 2004, when it knocked off Fairfield.
All-MAAC First Team selection, junior outside hitter Claire Archibald recorded her second consecutive double-double. The junior finished with 16 kills, 13 digs, and hit .417. The junior leads the league with a total of 480 kills on the season.
Junior middle blocker Mia Bonsignore recorded a .536 hitting percentage, 17 kills, and five blocks, which were all match-highs.
2017 MAAC Rookie of the Year, Jamie Smith finished the contest with eight kills, a team-high 15 digs, three blocks, and two assists.
Junior setter Emma Rose registered a match-high 43 assists, and added nine digs.
The Gaels collectively hit .267, tallied 51 kills, 59 digs, and 49 assists.
Iona extended its winning streak to six matches in a row and are (7-3) in its last 10 matches.

Niagara Notes:

The Purple Eagles season ended after its fourth-straight appearance in the MAAC Volleyball Championship.
Senior outside hitter Madison May recorded a team-high nine kills and hit a team-best .471.
2017 MAAC Libero of the Year, senior Rylee Hunt tallied 18 digs and registered a .931 reception percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Leitch added eight kills. 2017 MAAC All-Rookie Team selection, Jaycie Roberts finished the match with six kills and 10 digs.

About the 2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship:
The 2017 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Volleyball Championship takes place, November 17-19, and returns to George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall on the campus of Fairfield University for the second year in a row. For more information on the 2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship, visit maacsports.com/vb and be sure to follow the action on social media by using #MAACVB. Tickets can be purchased at maac.ticketleap.com

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 37^th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.