LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Fairfield University volleyball team capped an unbeaten opening weekend of MAAC action with a 3-1 win at Rider on Sunday afternoon. The Stags were led offensively by Skyler Day, who matched her career high with 20 kills in the four-set victory.
With their third consecutive victory, the Stags improve to 9-5 on the season with a 2-0 MAAC tally. The Broncs, who lost a five-set outing to Quinnipiac on Saturday, fall to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Fairfield took the match by set scores of 25-15, 23-25, 25-20 and 25-11.
Day's match-high 20 kills came on .346 hitting. Megan Theiller added a dozen finishers from the outside and led the Stags with 17 digs. Kaitlyn Fisher added 11 kills on efficient .526 hitting percentage (11-1-19).
Megan O'Sullivan notched seven kills from the middle, and Sydney Williams picked up four kills.
Manuela Nicolini also had four kills from the setter spot, complementing her first career double-double consisting of 37 assists and 11 digs – both career highs for the rookie. Taylor Rudeen added seven assists and Sydney Buckley dished out six as the Stags' attack notched a .279 hitting percentage.
In addition to Theiller's 17 digs, Rudeen helmed the effort in the back row with 14 digs. Buckley added seven digs and Day contributed six. At the net, Fisher and O'Sullivan each had a hand in three of the Stags' six total blocks. Fairfield's defensive performance limited Rider to .118 hitting as a team.
Rounding out the scoring for the Stags were Day with two service aces and one winner a piece dropped in by Nicolini and Sonja Radulovic.
Hailey Riede and Briana Guzman each had 11 kills to lead the Broncs. Rider's offense was run through Veronica Koval to the tune of 40 assists. Koval also had 16 digs to cap a double-double, while Emma Aldaya led all players in the back row with 23 digs.
Next weekend, MAAC action comes to George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall as the Stags host Manhattan on Saturday, Sept. 24 and Iona on Sunday, Sept. 25. Both matches are slated for a 1 p.m. first serve.
