Orlando, Fla. - Manhattan Volleyball's hope of capturing a MAAC Championship ended at the hands of No. 1 Fairfield University during Friday afternoon's semifinal match at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.
The fourth-seeded Lady Jaspers fell to the MAAC Regular Season Champion Stags in three games (30-19, 30-22, 30-13).
After watching Manhattan freshman Rita Welsh's three kills quickly boost the Lady Jaspers to a 4-1 lead in game one, Fairfield posted an 11-2 run to take control of the contest and never looked back.
Welsh finished with a team high 10 kills for Manhattan, but the Lady Jaspers were unable to penetrate the Stag defense, which had four players reach double-digits in digs. Fairfield's libero Brandi Higa led the Stags with 18 dig. Manhattan's Ashley Watson, a two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week selection during the 2006 campiagn, led all players with 21 digs, but was one of only two Lady Jaspers to break the 10-dig mark.
Manhattan sophomore Sherryta Stokes, who earned All-MAAC Second Team honors, dug up 11 balls and notched seven kills.
Fairfield's Lindsey Lee led all attackers with 11 kills, but her teammate Katie Mann was the most efficient offensive player. Mann had eight kills and a .412 hitting percentage, while also adding six blocks.
The Lady Jaspers did not help themselves in the service game by making 12 miscues compared to only four Fairfield service errors.
With the win Fairfield moves onto tomorrow's MAAC Tournament Final, while the Lady Jaspers will play a consolation match for third place.
