After a successful start to the season, the women’s volleyball team continued to ride high into the MAAC portion of their season by defeating Marist College and Siena College at home.
On Wednesday, the team defeated Marist College 3-1 to end a three-game at-home losing streak.
“I was really pleased with both victories as both came in different ways,” said Head Coach Jeff Werneke. “Marist traditionally is a really scrappy team that just picks you apart and waits for you to fall. Well, we didn’t, and often times this season we have.”
The team’s victory over Siena College on Saturday was not only their second MAAC victory in as many games, but was a 3-0 shutout and their second consecutive home win.
“Siena was, I believe, one of the great games of this season, as we came in with a game plan, executed and made game time adjustments when we needed to,” said Werneke.
The team had stellar performances from all of its players during the two-game homestand. On Wednesday, Lindsey Lee’08 had 21 kills, which was just two shy of her career-best. Jazmin Pa’akaula’08 recorded 12 kills and 18 digs.
Lauren Laramore ’06 had a season-high 21 digs and then set a school record with 7 digs against Siena for 1,487 digs in her Fairfield career.
“I believe that this team is the most talented team we have had since I came here in 2002,” said Werneke.
“From top to bottom we have players that can get the job done,” he added. “It’s like you have a 100-piece puzzle that doesn’t look organized but once you start putting the pieces together it all comes together.”
The team, ranked first in the MAAC Preseason Coach’s Poll, had won the MAAC Championship four straight years from 1998 – 2001.
However, the team has been unable to attain another MAAC Championship since.
“They [the team] know that every MAAC team wants to beat them, in fact they know it makes the other teams year when they play us, we are definitely the hunted,” said Werneke, “So we are focusing in on being the best we can be day in and day out, our players want to take it one match at time.”
The Siena win moved the team to 2-0 in the MAAC and 11-11 overall.
The team heads to New York for a weekend MAAC match up against Canisius on Saturday and Niagara on Sunday.
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