WORCESTER, Mass. – Sydney Buckley recorded a double-double, helping to guide the Fairfield University volleyball team to a 3-1 win over UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon at the Crusader Classic. The Stags will look for a clean sweep of the tournament when they challenge host Holy Cross this evening at 5:30 p.m.
Fairfield (4-3) previously defeated Brown and Bryant in Friday's action from Worcester. UMass Lowell, which also defeated Bryant yesterday, falls to 2-4. The Stags won the match by scores of 25-10, 25-21, 22-25 and 25-16.
Buckley dished out 26 assists and registered 13 digs to account for her double-double, in addition to two kills on her only two swings of the match. She teamed with fellow setter Manuela Nicolini, who distributed 16 assists, to run the Fairfield offense to a .209 hitting percentage.
The Stags' setting duo connected often with outside hitters Megan Theiller and Skyler Day to the tune of 16 and 14 kills, respectively. Theiller fell just shy of a double-double of her own with nine digs, while Day had five from the back row.
Megan O'Sullivan added six kills from the middle for the Stags, while Sydney Williams and Oyinkansola Akinola notched five finishers apiece.
The back row was anchored by 18 digs from libero Mallory Bechtold and 11 from Taylor Rudeen. At the net, O'Sullivan was a part of six of Fairfield's nine team blocks. Akinola and Williams each had a hand in three rejections, with Theiller and Nicolini playing a role in one apiece.
Rounding out the Fairfield scoring were Day and Jamie Calandro with one service ace apiece.
The River Hawks were paced by 15 kills from Katherine Claybaugh, who completed a double-double with 13 digs. McKenna Bova dished out 20 assists for UMass Lowell, and Lindsey Visvardis led all players with 20 digs.
The Stags complete the weekend this evening at 5:30 p.m. against host Holy Cross in a match that will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network. The Crusaders, who are currently in action against UMass Lowell, began the day with a record of 2-2 after a five-set win over Brown yesterday.
