FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University women's tennis team will open spring Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) competition when the Stags host Quinnipiac University on Wednesday, March 19 at the Manchester Racquet Club in Manchester, Conn. The first serve is set for 1pm.

Fairfield vs. Quinnipiac: Wednesday's match will be the first dual the Stags and the Bobcats have played against one another since last year's match on March 28. In that contest, Fairfield fell to Quinnipiac, 6-1, at the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts. Fairfield and Quinnipiac have already met this season at the Sacred Heart Doubles Festival on September 7. Monica Yajima/Allison Radde fell to the Bobcats' Jacqueline Raynor/Sophia Dzulynsky, 8-2, while Sharissa Ryan/Victoria Pirrello fell, 8-2, to Rachel Horton/Sydney Young. Stag duo Kaila Nelson/Karen McKeough was edged, 8-6, by Quinnipiac's Ariana Launie/Mary Chupa, while Holly Ream/Stephanie Ziegler were blanked, 8-0, by the Bobcats' Daniella Reyes/Nicole Keklik.

A Look at the Bobcats: Quinnipiac is 2-7 on the season so far. The Bobcats have posted victories over Rider and Saint Joseph's and have fallen to UConn, Brown, Boston University, Delaware, Army, South Dakota State, and Creighton. In their fall season, Quinnipiac competed in four tournaments including the Sacred Heart Doubles Festival, Quinnipiac Invitational, Army Invitational, and the ITA Regionals. The Bobcats are coming off a 4-3 loss to Creighton on March 11.  

Last Time Out: The Stags defeated the Lafayette Leopards, 6-1, on March 8 at the Stamford Indoor Tennis Club. Yajima picked up the win at No. 1 singles by defeating Caroline Nixon, 6-0, 6-2, while Ryan downed Lafayette's Rocine Moschella, 6-1, 6-0, in the No. 2 spot. Radde edged Catherine Senopoulos, 7-5, 6-0, in the No. 3 spot, while Nelson defeated the Leopards' Tori Almeida 6-3, 6-3, at No. 4. At No. 5 singles was Pirrello, who defeated Lauren Tracy, 6-3, 6-1. The Stags only gave up one point at No. 6 singles, where Lafayette's Amanda Kusnierz edged Emma Samson, 8-3. In doubles play, Fairfield duo Yajima/Carolina Koladzyn defeated Lafayette's duo Caroline Nixon/Catherine Senopoulos, 8-5, in the No. 1 spot, while Ryan/Pirrello clipped the Leopards' Moschella/Almeida, 8-5, in the No. 2 spot.

Looking Ahead: Fairfield (4-4) will take action on the road, stopping at Hofstra on March 28 before returning home to host Long Island University on March 30.