Marist volleyball fell to Fairfield in straight sets (25-23, 27-25, 25-15) on Friday, extending its losing streak to three games as the Red Foxes dropped a pair of tightly contested opening sets before losing the third.
The Red Foxes entered the matchup looking to bounce back after going 0-2 last weekend. Meanwhile, Fairfield arrived a perfect 7-0 in the Metro, finding themselves atop the conference standings. With the loss, Marist is now 4-4 in conference play, tying Manhattan and Saint Peter’s for sixth place.
Marist battled Fairfield throughout the opening set, keeping the score close before the Stags pulled away late. The Red Foxes held a 18-14 lead after a kill from senior outside hitter Sara Dasic, but Fairfield responded with a run to cut the deficit to one at 18-17, forcing a Marist timeout.
The Red Foxes regained their composure after the break, with Dasic adding another kill to help maintain the lead. Fairfield responded with three straight points to take a 21-20 lead, and Marist head coach Annie DeLoid called her second timeout.
Junior middle blocker Sarah Bumstead hammered a kill down the line, finding a gap past two Fairfield defenders, off a precise set from sophomore setter Caelyn Dumas to level the score at 21.
The teams continued trading points, with Marist tying the score at 23 after a Fairfield service error. The Stags closed out the set with two consecutive points, taking the opening frame, 25-23.
Fairfield carried its momentum into the second set, opening with a 6-0 run to mount an early advantage. Marist responded with a five-point run, highlighted by four kills from sophomore outside hitter Mallory Reck, to cut the deficit to one.
Marist took the lead midway through the set and continued to battle Fairfield down the stretch. Senior right-side hitter Trinity Woods delivered key kills to give the Red Foxes a late advantage, but Fairfield answered with back-to-back service aces to even the score. Fairfield ultimately pulled away in the closing points to win the set, 27-25.
Marist unraveled in the third set, as Fairfield outpaced the Red Foxes after overcoming an early back-and-forth. Reck and freshman middle blocker Molly Malone teamed up for a block, and Reck added another kill to help the Red Foxes stay within striking distance.
The teams continued trading points before Fairfield gained separation behind a pair of kills. Marist tried to respond, but Fairfield used a late scoring run to pull away. The stags closed out the set, 25-15, to secure the straight-set victory.
Marist will look to snap its three-game losing streak as they face Sacred Heart tomorrow for their second of five-straight home games.
Edited by August Lieberman
Graphic by Xavier Angel
Photo via Marist Athletics
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