Brandi Higa's senior season at Fairfield has seen more change than a four-year starter would expect.

The 2005 Hawaii Baptist Academy graduate spent her entire career as part of a foursome from Hawaii that included Lindsey Lee, Ashley Hanohano and Jazmin Paakaula.

During the three years they were together, the Stags won a share of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship every year and advanced to the tournament final all three times.

But all of that seems like a distant memory now. Lee, Hanohano and Paakaula all graduated last year and coach Jeff Werneke stepped down in January to take the same position at Rutgers.

With a new coach and a fresh new set of players, Higa's challenge this season is to take a leadership role and help maintain the program's level of success it has had during the time she's been there.

“;It's actually not as big of a step as I thought it was going to be,”; said Higa, who earlier this season became the ninth Stag to have 1,000 digs in a career. “;We do have another senior and three other returners and a pretty good supporting cast. It wasn't as big of a jump as I thought.”;

Higa can say that now after the Stags opened conference play with four consecutive wins. But prior to the opener against Rider two weeks ago, Fairfield was 2-9 and in the midst of a seven-match losing streak, with four of those losses coming in five sets.

“;Chemistry isn't something you can get right off that bat,”; Higa said about the team's early struggles. “;We're with a new setter who is kind of our quarterback, and it can be difficult playing with people who are new.”;

Haililani Pokipala

One of those new faces is 2008 Sacred Hearts graduate Haililani Pokipala. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter has played in 13 of the Stags' 15 games this season, and even though she's struggled with her kill percentage so far, she leads the team with 18 service aces and is fourth in digs.

“;It's a little intense,”; Pokipala said. “;I think it's an honor just to be able to contribute to the team and do what I can to help them.”;

Even though most of the local girls graduated last season, Pokipala was enamored with Fairfield after hearing them talk about how fun the school is.

Werneke recruited her, but even after he stepped down, she never wavered in her decision to attend school all the way in Connecticut.

“;I came to this school because I love the school,”; she said. “;(Coaching changes) happen, but I wasn't going to not come here because of it.”;

When Higa was a freshman, she was quickly taken under the wing of her fellow Hawaii counterparts, who she says helped her make the transition.

With that in mind, she has tried to lend a helping hand to her freshman teammates, which Pokipala appreciates.

In the preseason, the two were roommates where they spent a lot of time getting to know and understand each other.

“;After an intense practice I was like kind of down and she would always tell me her freshman experiences,”; Pokipala said. “;She said don't worry, it will get better and just always encourages me to keep trying my best and it will be all good in the end.”;

The time for bonding is over though, as the Stags are in the middle of a wacky season in the MAAC. Siena, which has beaten Fairfield in the last three tournament championships, is also trying to replace a lot of seniors.

With a lot of uncertainty at the top, it's given the Stags the belief that they can still challenge for a tournament title.

“;Every team in our conference is in a rebuilding process it seems,”; Higa said. “;Siena actually lost to Canisius just two weeks ago. The tables have kind of turned regarding who is going to be top four. It's hard to be down on all the losses we made because we have a new chance.”;

Fairfield has home games this weekend against Niagara and Canisius before a critical road affair at Siena.

Those three games will be a big test to see if this team has what it takes to contend for another regular-season crown.

“;Systematically, things have changed (with our new coach),”; Higa said. “;Practices have definitely picked up in intensity because we've had to start over in a new system. I think that's only going to help us the further we get into the season.”;