FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action comes to Alumni Hall for the first time in 2015 as the Fairfield University volleyball team hosts Quinnipiac on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. The Stags have won six consecutive meetings with the Bobcats, including all four matches since Quinnipiac joined the MAAC in 2013.
Fairfield is 4-7 overall and 0-2 in MAAC play after opening the conference slate this past weekend in Western New York. The Stags were clipped at Niagara in four sets and swept at Canisius to begin MAAC play. Skyler Day led Fairfield with 2.50 kills and 3.12 digs per set this past weekend, while Megan Theiller contributed 2.00 kills per frame against the Purple Eagles and Golden Griffins.
The Stags were also propelled by the play of several freshmen in their first two MAAC contests. Kaitlyn Fisher hit a team-best .450 with 11 kills on 20 swings, and Chanel Cooper added 13 kills on .323 hitting (13-3-31). In the middle, another duo of newcomers led the way as Oyinkansola Akinola totaled nine kills and seven blocks while Sydney Williams recorded 11 kills and was a part of five Fairfield send-backs.
For the season to date, Theiller and Day have posted near identical numbers for the Stags on the outside. Theiller has recorded 3.22 kills and 2.33 digs per frame thus far in 2015, while Day's inaugural campaign at Fairfield has included 3.17 kills and 2.71 digs per set.
Quinnipiac is 1-12 on the season following a home loss to St. Francis (N.Y.) last night and is also 0-2 in the MAAC after a winless trip to the Buffalo area last weekend. The Bobcats are led by 3.16 kills per set from Katie Urycki and 1.94 finishers per frame off the swing of Elizabeth Kloos. A duo of setters have shouldered the load in Sierra Dawson (3.67 assists/set) and Emma Ogden (2.41 assists/set).
Defensively, Kat Miller leads the back row with 3.16 digs per set. The Bobcats, who lead the MAAC with 2.17 blocks per set as a team, are helmed at the net by 1.02 blocks per set (50 total blocks) from Kloos.
The Stags and Bobcats shared two opponents in the non-conference slate. Fairfield earned wins over Holy Cross and Delaware State earlier in September, while Quinnipiac split two clashes with the Crusaders – both on neutral courts – and lost a four-set encounter with the Hornets in Princess Anne, Md.
Saturday's contest starts a three-match homestand for Fairfield. The Stags continue MAAC play on Oct. 3-4 when Saint Peter's and Rider visit Alumni Hall.
