FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit en route to a 3-2 victory over visiting St. John's on Wednesday on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall. In a match that included 22 ties and six lead changes, the Stags topped the Red Storm by scores of 22-25, 16-25, 25-20, 25-15 and 15-12.
With the victory, Fairfield improves to 7-5 with MAAC play set to begin this weekend. The Red Storm suffers just its second loss of 2016, dropping to 8-2 on the year.
“We got back to who we are tonight, especially defensively and at the net,” said Head Coach Todd Kress. “We aren't a team that can take points off. We have to fight for every ball and every point, and we did that tonight.”
Kaitlyn Fisher powered the Stags both offensively and defensively. The sophomore had a career-high 15 kills on .636 hitting (15-1-22) and racked up eight blocks. Skyler Day led all players with 16 kills, and Megan Theiller just missed a double-double with 15 kills and nine digs.
Megan O'Sullivan was also a force at the net, sending home nine kills from the middle and totaling seven blocks. Sydney Williams added four kills with six blocks, and Manuela Nicolini had five kills and four blocks.
As a team, Fairfield's 16 total blocks are the most blocks since sending back 16 Marist offerings on Oct. 11, 2015 in another match that saw the Stags erase a 2-0 deficit to win in five frames.
Fairfield hit .270 in the match, piloted by the setting duo of Nicolini and Sydney Buckley. Nicolini dished out 16 assists and Buckley had 35 helpers to go along with five digs.
In the back row, Taylor Rudeen led all players from the libero sport with 18 digs. Sonja Radulovic provided a defensive boost off the bench with five digs.
Rounding out the Fairfield scoring, Day and Theiller each landed two aces with Buckley and Radulovic both contributing one winner from behind the service line.
St. John's setter Erica Di Maulo spread the ball around to four different players that reached double-figure kills, accumulating 50 assists in the process. Gaia Traballi led the way with 13 kills, followed by Julia Cast with 12, Margherita Bianchin with 11 and Mona Karkkainen with 10. Delaney D'Amore helmed the Red Storm back row with 13 digs. St. John's had 10 blocks, with Danisha Moss playing a part in six rejections for the visitors.
Tonight marked Fairfield's first five-set contest of 2016 after posting a record of 4-2 in five-set matches last fall. The Stags won two matches after trailing 2-0 last season.
This weekend the Stags hit the road with visit Saint Peter's (0-5) and Rider (5-6) on Sept. 17-18 to begin the official defense of their 2015 MAAC Championship. The upcoming meetings with the conference's New Jersey contingent will start a run of nine straight MAAC matches for the Stags. Fairfield returns home to George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall on Sept. 24-25 to host Manhattan and Iona in conference action.
