STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Fairfield University volleyball team rallied past host Stony Brook, 3-2, on Wednesday evening to improve the nation's longest active winning streak to 19 matches. Skyler Day led all players with 22 kills in the five-set triumph, which came by set scores of 21-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20 and 18-16. The match featured 37 ties and 15 lead changes.
With the win, the Stags improve to 25-5 on the season and record the fifth 25-win season in program history – the first since 2000. Fairfield is also 17-0 in the MAAC with a Saturday visit from Quinnipiac on tap in the team's regular season finale.
The reigning MAAC Player of the Week, Day added 10 digs to her 22 kills to post a double-double. Megan Theiller also added a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs. Setter Manuela Nicolini was the third Stag to record a double-double with 37 assists and 10 digs. All three players also notched double-doubles in this past Sunday's five-set victory at Niagara.
Aiding the attack from the middle was Megan O'Sullivan, who sent home 11 kills. Kaitlyn Fisher added eight finishers, while Nora Quinn and Sonja Radulovic each posted one. Nicolini added two kills from the setter spot. She teamed with Sydney Buckley, who doled out 11 assists, to run the offense to an even .200 hitting percentage.
Defensively, Taylor Rudeen had a match-best 17 digs, and Mallory Bechtold picked up 14 from the libero spot. At the net, O'Sullivan had a hand in eight of the Stags' 11 team blocks. Fisher was a part of three rejections, while Day and Quinn each recorded one solo and one assisted send-back.
Rounding out the scoring, the Stags tied their season high with eight service aces. Bechtold and Buckley each landed two winners with one apiece coming off the serve of Day, O'Sullivan, Rudeen and Theiller.
McKyla Brooks led the offense for Stony Brook with 18 kills. The attack was run to a .208 clip by Leanne Sakowicz, who dished out a match-leading 45 assists. Kardasia Hitchcock guided the back row with 16 digs.
Fairfield returns to George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall this weekend to conclude the regular season against in-state MAAC foe Quinnipiac on Nov. 12. Prior to the match, the Stags will recognize senior Megan O'Sullivan in her final regular season match at Alumni Hall.
The 2016 MAAC Championship will bring the top six teams in the conference to Alumni Hall on Nov. 18-20. As the MAAC Regular Season Champion and top seed in the tournament, Fairfield will first take the court in the postseason on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. in the semifinal round.
The five teams joining Fairfield in the tournament are Marist, Niagara, Quinnipiac, Rider and Siena. The seeding for those squads will be determined by results during the final weekend of the regular season. FairfieldStags.com will provide updated information regarding the MAAC Championship as it is finalized by the conference office.
