Volleyball Finally beats Marist

The Fairfield University volleyball team went 1-1 over the weekend dropping a 3-1 decision to the Iona Gaels on the road Sunday. But the day before, the team gave it's home crowd something to cheer about enjoying their most lopsided win of the season sweeping the Marist Red Foxes 3-0 at Alumni Hall on Saturday afternoon. The team laughed and smiled during the closing stages of the match leaping in delight after their fifth straight conference win. The cheerful atmosphere around the team was the exact opposite sensation the players experienced the last time they battled Marist.

It was right after last year's MAAC Semifinals and their stunning loss to the Red Foxes. The Stags entered the tournament as the number one seed for the sixth consecutive year. They found themselves against the fourth seeded Marist Red Foxes, a team that Fairfield was 24-3 against in their program history and had not lost to in 6 years. It was supposed to be a magical special season. The rise of Brianna Dixion, who became the MAAC Rookie of the Year. The story of senior Katie Mann, one of the best players in program history, in her quest to win her first MAAC Championship. The chemistry and excitement that the team brought to every game. All of that thrilling promise ended on the last point of the fifth set when Brianna Dixion's spike went off the legs of the referee. "It was sad. We shouldn't have lost to a team like that," now senior Lauren Hughes said. "After a loss like that you're definitely crushed anytime," coach Alija Pittenger said. The head coach, who is now in her third year, was given the difficult task to move the program forward and not to dwell on the past.

Out with the 2009 Fairfield Stags Volleyball Team. In with 2010 FUVB. This is a new team with an old goal, "to win the MAAC Championship," Lauren Hughes said. They are determined to leave the past in the rear view mirror and be driven by the motivation to win. Despite playing the same team that knocked them out of the tournament and killed their chances at a MAAC title, this team did not see that as anymore incentive to get some revenge. "It's funny. We actually asked them if playing Marist had anything to do with it. They said no, not really. So I think they've just been working hard and they had a fun time today," Pittenger said after the win.

It would be hard for any team coming into a year trying to forget about the heartbreaking end of the prior season and the loss of the key player and the undeniable leader of the group. But if they want to accomplish what they are set out to do, Fairfield would have to do just that. In order to do that, they would have to find a new leader. Someone who can lead by example on and off the court. They might have found that in senior Lauren Hughes. The California native ranks third on the team in kills and has amassed 790 in her four year career. She finished the Marist win with six kills. Sophomore Brianna Dixion led the team with 10 on a career high .600 hitting percentage. Being one of the few seniors on the squad, Hughes will have to help the team learn from her experiences. Hughes has great expectations for the team and the confidence that they can succeed, "I think we're coming together and playing how we should be playing and we're just going to beat every team out there."

Volleyball Returns Home

The students and parents filed in and sat in the cold vacant benches of Alumni Hall. A buzz drew over the crowd as the back and forth match reached its high point. The music of the band echoed in the hollowed walls of the dome. For the first time since last year the fans sat and watched a sporting event at Alumni Hall. The Fairfield University Volleyball Team competed in its first home game since November 15^th of last year. It has been 10 months and 10 days, but the dominant varsity team was back in action on Saturday. Head coach Ajila Pittinger enjoys playing on campus, "You got to love playing at Alumni, the place is awesome, the band is great, the fans are really loud and it really helps us." Over the past four years the Stags have marveled in home-court advantage going 50-1 against their conference opponents inside the confines of Alumni.

The Stags have won six-straight regular season crowns. The squad has tallied up 3 championships in their historic MAAC program. Since their first year, Fairfield has been a MAAC Volleyball powerhouse.

A big reason for their recent past success is their former middle blocker Katie Mann. She was one of the best players to ever put on a Fairfield volleyball uniform, ranking first all-time in blocks and hitting percentage while also ranking third all-time in kills. She became the Stag's Super-Mann. "She was definitely someone we looked to every time we needed a kill," Pittinger said. The third year head coach saw the superstar shine through her historic stay here but knows the program has to move on and needs a total team effort, "instead of being replaced by one person I think we're looking to everybody on the team."

The Stags have these pieces in place to improve on their heart-breaking upset at the hands of the Marist Red Foxes in last year's MAAC semifinals. Red shirted junior, Alex Lopez returns to the lineup in a different role this season. The former outside hitter suffered an injury that ended her season before it even started. Through her career she has been known as a perennial offensive option. She must now rely on her defense being the team's new libero. "She has always had great ball control," Pittinger said. The Colorado native is a former All-MAAC Second team selection and has amassed 375 kills in her four years. She is joined by two other new comers for the 2010 season, including fellow Rockies native, Rachel Romansky. The freshmen setter has enjoyed early success already placing sixth on the team in kills. Combine that with her 425 assists and the Stags might have found a promising four-year starter. With the impossible task of trying to replace the most successful middle blocker in school history is Hailey Moyer. The first year player has displayed some of the skills that show why she is starting so early into her collegiate career. "They've been a huge part of the team and I don't think you can ask for more," Pittinger said.

This is a new team with a different feel. They struggled early in the year falling to a 1-9 record before starting MAAC play. The goal of this team, that was picked to finish second in the MAAC, is to get better and continue to improve throughout the season. The thrilling win over Manhattan is a prime example, "I think earlier in the season I'm not sure we would have necessarily pulled out that fifth set," Pittinger said. They improved to a 4-0 conference record and have only dropped two total sets in those games. The coach believes that this team seems to develop more confidence when playing the familiar opponents. With the progressive play of this promising team, Saturday was the first chapter to a magical story at Alumni Hall.