Nov. 9, 2008
Final Stats
Despite a career-high 32 kills from junior star Burgandy McCurty Siena dropped its second five set decision of the season to rival Fairfield on the road Sunday. The Saints rallied from a 2-0 deficit and controlled a statistical advantage in the match, but the Stags took over when it mattered most to seize control of the MAAC regular-season race.
Fairfield (17-12/14-2) scored the final four points of the first set to claim a 26-24 win after Siena controlled most of the early action. The Stags took the second set 25-21, pulling free late from a 20-19 lead. The Saints bounced back after intermission, posting decisive 25-18 and 25-20 victories in the third and fourth sets, but Fairfield won the fifth 15-12.
McCurty may have turned in the best performance of her stellar career, posting a .431 attack percentage to go along with her 32 kills and 19 digs.
Fairfield's Katie Mann had 22 kills and hit .500 to lead the Stags. Mann delivered the final blow of the match, stopping a late Siena rally with a kill from the middle that evaded three Siena blockers.
Kau'i Robello added 13kills and 17 digs for the Saints, posting an impressive .306 attack percentage on the outside. Robello played a key role in the Saints' rally to tie the match, taking over the fourth set and forcing the Stags to adjust their front row defense.
Setter April London had a season-high 60 assists and killed five her six attacks for the Saints. Siena owned a 74-73 edge in kills, a .337-.308 advantage in hitting percentage and an 84-75 lead in digs.
The Stags used a 3-0 run and a 4-0 run to take control in the fifth set. With the set tied 5-5, Fairfield ran off three straight points, culminating with a Katie Urbaniak kill. After the Saints closed to within 10-9, the Stags scored four straight points to move within a point of the match. The Saints rallied for three straight points to make things interesting, but Mann finished off the final rally.
Fairfield now owns a full one match lead over Siena in the MAAC standings with two matches to play. The Stags control the tiebreaker with victories in both matches against the Saints this year.
Both teams have clinched spots in the four-team championships November 23 and 24 on UHY Court in the Alumni Recreation Center on Siena's campus.
