The Fairfield Trojans volleyball team faced tough competition at the Williamsburg Tournament, finishing 1-3 against a challenging field that included a state-ranked opponent. The Trojans now sit at 9-6 overall following the weekend tournament.
West Liberty – Loss 1-2 (21-14, 18-21, 9-15)
The Trojans opened tournament play with a hard-fought 3-set loss to West Liberty. Fairfield took the opening set 21-14 but couldn’t maintain momentum, dropping the final 2 sets.
Natalie Steele led the offensive attack with 7 kills, while Elyse Setterstrom contributed 6 kills. Faith Jones orchestrated the offense with 20 assists, and the team maintained excellent serving with 93.3% efficiency.
Defensively, Isabel McCready anchored the back row with 17 digs, while Lexi Mast and Mallory Wigle each added 6 digs. However, 11 team kill errors proved costly in the loss.
#6 Beckman Catholic – Loss 0-2 (17-21, 7-21)
Fairfield faced its toughest test against 6th-ranked Beckman Catholic and struggled against the elite competition. The Trojans were swept in straight sets, managing just 17 and 7 points respectively.
Maddy Martin paced the offense with 3 kills, while Jones distributed 11 assists. The team showed improved ball control with only 5 kill errors and maintained strong serving at 95.8% efficiency.
McCready again led the defensive effort with 9 digs, with Wigle adding 5 digs to the effort.
Des Moines Christian – Loss 0-2 (14-21, 21-23)
The Trojans came close to forcing a 3rd set against Des Moines Christian, falling 21-23 in the 2nd set after losing the opener 14-21.
Steele and Leah Helmick each contributed 6 kills to lead the offensive attack, with Jaden Haynes adding 3 kills. Jones continued her strong playmaking with 13 assists.
The team struggled with 9 kill errors but showed resilience in the 2nd set. Mast led the defensive effort with 4 digs out of the team’s 17 total. Serving remained consistent at 96.4% efficiency.
Des Moines Lincoln – Win 2-0 (22-20, 21-15)
Fairfield bounced back with their lone tournament victory, sweeping Des Moines Lincoln in straight sets. Both sets were competitive, with the Trojans winning 22-20 and 21-15.
Helmick led the offensive charge with 6 kills, while Bella Buckley and Jones each contributed 3 kills. Jones facilitated the attack with 15 assists.
The defense was anchored by McCready’s 9 digs, while Setterstrom, Haynes, and Steele each recorded 2 blocks. Despite 10 kill errors, the Trojans managed the win with balanced contributions across the roster.
Looking Ahead
Fairfield is now looking to bounce back with a tough schedule against more great competition this week. They host Burlington on Tuesday, September 16th for a conference match as the Grayhounds come with a 16-5 overall record.
