Fairfield falls in three sets at Burlington

BURLINGTON — Fairfield volleyball kicked off its Southeast Conference head-to-head season on Tuesday night in a matchup against Burlington.

In what was anyone’s contest throughout, ended with the Trojans coming up just short to the Grayhounds 3-2, 25-23, 14-25, 17-25, 25-20 and 10-15.

The Trojans (1-6) started out on the right note, but it wasn’t easy.

Fairfield’s biggest lead in the first set was just four points coming at 14-10.

Burlington (6-4) didn’t go away. The two teams tied six times with the final time coming at 23-23.

A kill by Claire Thompson, followed by an ace from Emmelia Miller sealed the opening set for Fairfield.

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To the Trojans dismay, the following two were all Burlington.

In set two, the Grayhounds raced out to a 5-1 lead and would never give it up.

Fairfield came as close as two at 7-5 after four hits by Burlington and a kill from Lilly Bergren, but they couldn’t get back on top.

After being down 15-10, a Trojan ace pulled it to within four, but Fairfield would score just three more times the rest of the match.

Burlington ended the second set on a 10-3 run.

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Set three was similar to the second.

The Trojans opened the third frame well, as a Bergren kill gave them the early 4-2 lead, but momentum shifted after the Grayhounds rattled off 10 straight points to make it 12-4.

Fairfield never gave up, pulling back within four off a block from Jaden Haynes to make it 13-9, but the Trojans came no closer in the set.

With the match on the line, the Trojans did not waiver.

In the fourth set, the Trojans did what they needed to stay alive. After yet another back and forth set, Fairfield prevailed 25-20 to force a winner take all fifth.

However, it wasn’t meant to be as Burlington came away with the narrow 15-10 win to walk away victorious.

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Fairfield will be back in action on Thursday at WACO High School, facing the likes of WACO, New London and Cardinal.