FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University volleyball team will carry the momentum of a thrilling five-set win over St. John's into the weekend as the Stags open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a weekend trip to Saint Peter's and Rider. The defending champions of the MAAC will visit the Peacocks on Saturday, Sept. 17 at noon before heading further south in the Garden State to meet the Broncs on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.
The Stags' 3-2 victory over the Red Storm, which saw Fairfield erase a 2-0 deficit en route to toppling a Big East foe for the first time since 2009, was led by a standout performance from Kaitlyn Fisher. The sophomore entered the starting lineup for the first time this season and fueled the comeback effort with a career-high 15 kills on .636 hitting (15-1-22) and eight blocks. As a team, Fairfield's 16 total blocks against St. John's marked the most rejections since sending back 16 Marist offerings on Oct. 11, 2015 in another match that saw the Stags climb out of a 2-0 hole to win in five frames.
Fairfield enters MAAC play in search of its ninth conference title and NCAA postseason berth. In addition to winning the 2015 crown, the Stags won five straight MAAC titles from 1997-2001 and took back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. Fairfield begins the 2016 league slate with active streaks of nine consecutive MAAC wins and 11 consecutive victories over MAAC teams overall (including postseason and non-conference meetings).
Since the MAAC began round robin play in 1991, Fairfield is 242-62 (.796) in the MAAC regular season bolstered by a 132-16 (.892) record in MAAC matches at Alumni Hall. The Stags have recorded a winning record in MAAC play in 20 consecutive seasons.
After this weekend's trek through New Jersey, MAAC play comes to George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall – the site of this year's MAAC Championship – for the first time in 2016 as the Stags host Manhattan and Iona on Sept. 24-25.
Fairfield at Saint Peter's
Saturday, Sept. 17 | 12 p.m.
Live Video
Saint Peter's will begin conference play in search of its first win of the fall. The Peacocks are 0-5 with losses at the hands of Providence, Lehigh, Lafayette, NJIT and Fordham. Saint Peter's was tabbed for 10th in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing ninth with a record of 4-24 overall and 2-16 in the conference last season.
The Peacocks are led by four players averaging better than a kill per set – Marlena Budna, Amanda Colombo, Kristina Nieves and Danielle Lopez. Setting duties have been shared by Kaitlyn Sitton, Alison Makinen and MacKenzie Alvarez, and the back row has been headed by 3.00 digs per frame by Carolina Ruiz.
With a pair of sweeps last fall, Fairfield improved to 40-10 all-time against the Peacocks. The Stags have won 10 consecutive meetings with Saint Peter's and 22 of the last 23 encounters dating back to the start of the 2004 campaign.
Fairfield at Rider
Sunday, Sept. 18 | 1 p.m.
Live Video | Live Stats
Rider is currently 5-6 on the year after back-to-back wins over UMass Lowell and Fairleigh Dickinson. UMass Lowell is one of two common opponents shared by the Stags and Broncs; Rider was swept on Aug. 27 by a Bryant team that Fairfield later topped in straight sets on Sept. 2. Rider will open the MAAC slate against Quinnipiac on Saturday before hosting the Stags on Sunday.
The Broncs were selected in a tie for fourth place with Manhattan in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll following a fifth-place finish at 11-7 (16-17 overall) in 2015.
This fall, Rider is led by 2.33 kills per frame from Ryan Ackermann and 2.29 finishers per set by Hailey Riede. Veronica Koval has distributed 7.21 assists per set as the Broncs' primary setter, and Emma Aldaya helms the defensive effort with 4.10 digs per set.
After splitting the home-and-home series last season – which saw each road team coming away with a win – the Stags are 27-4 all-time against the Broncs. Rider's first-ever win at Alumni Hall last October snapped Fairfield's 12-match winning streak in the series.
