FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Volleyball begins the second round of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend as Manhattan and Iona visit George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall. First serve for both matches is slated for 1 p.m.
 
Sunday's meeting with the Gaels will be the Stags' annual "Herd for a Cure" match. T-shirts will be for sale in the lobby and donations will be collected to benefit the Norma Pfriem Breast Center. Fans are also encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. The year-long partnership between Fairfield Athletics and the Norma Pfriem Breast Center will feature "Herd for a Cure" events at home games throughout the 2017-18 academic year.
 
Fairfield (14-6, 9-0 MAAC) completed an unbeaten first trip through the MAAC slate last weekend with straight-set wins at Marist and Siena. Manuela Nicolini ran the attack to a .239 hitting percentage for the weekend, distributing 10.50 assists per set. The ball was distributed to six different hitters that averaged at least one kill per set. Skyler Day led the way with 3.33 kills per frame with Megan Theiller – returning to the front row for the first time this season – added 2.83 kills per set on the outside.
 
In the back row, Taylor Rudeen had a team-leading 5.17 digs per set from the libero spot, with Theiller adding 4.50 digs per frame. Nicolini had a hand in six of Fairfield's 13 team blocks, while Luci Albertson and Kaylie Butts were each a part of five rejections as the Stags limited their opponents to a collective .071 hitting percentage.
 
"I think defensively, we were the best that we've been all year. The team executed our game plan very well," said Head Coach Todd Kress of the Stags' performance against the Red Foxes and Saints. "I think those were the two best matches we've put together back-to-back from a defensive standpoint."
 
Winners of their last 10 matches overall, the Stags have won 40 consecutive contests against MAAC opposition – the second-longest active streak in the nation against conference foes (Dayton, 48) dating back to the 2015 campaign.
 
"We need to continue to take steps forward from this past weekend. We need to keep building in practice this week on what we did at Marist and Siena," Kress said. "Defensively, although I thought our effort was very good last weekend, we can still step that up a bit. And offensively, we can do a better job with some of our setting decisions and shot selection to put up bigger and better numbers."
 
Fairfield vs. Manhattan
Saturday, Oct. 21 @ 1 p.m.
George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall
Stags Sports Network | Live Stats
 
Manhattan is 1-21 overall and 1-8 in the MAAC after picking up its first win of the campaign this past Saturday against Saint Peter's. The Jaspers most recently took a 3-0 non-conference loss at Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday evening.
 
In the first meeting between the Stags and Jaspers on Sept. 17 in Riverdale, Fairfield was led by a team-high 11 kills on .381 (11-3-21) hitting by Kaitlyn Fisher. Day joined Fisher in double figures with 10 kills from the outside. The offense was managed by Nicolini, who distributed 32 assists while running the Stags to a .226 hitting percentage. Sonja Radulovic led by the back row with 12 digs, and Rudeen added 11 from the libero spot.
 
Sandra Lozanova led Manhattan offensively with 10 kills, while Erin Hoener had six kills on .417 hitting (6-1-12). Taylor Hasley and Zoe Lindsey shared setting duties and finished with 14 and 11 assists, respectively, and Alyssa Rehrer had a team-leading 10 digs for the host Jaspers.
 
Fairfield vs. Iona
Sunday, Oct. 22 @ 1 p.m.
George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall
Facebook Live | Live Stats
 
Iona has established itself as one of the most improved teams in the MAAC, boasting a 7-4 conference record (5-13 in 2016) as a part of a 9-14 overall tally. The Gaels bounced back from a 3-1 home loss to Rider last Saturday by sweeping visiting Saint Peter's in their most recent outing.
 
Fairfield rallied from a 2-1 deficit to upend host Iona, 3-2, when the squads met to open the MAAC slate on Sept. 16. Day led all players with 21 kills, while Radulovic completed a double-double for the Stags with 10 kills and 10 digs. In the middle, Albertson sent home seven kills on .385 hitting. In the back row, Rudeen led the way with 20 digs.
  
Iona was led by Claire Archibald with 18 kills and 11 digs, while Jamie Smith and Tess Connolly each posted 11 kills for the hosts. Emma Rose distributed 40 assists managing the Gaels' offense, and Alexandra Russo led all players with 21 digs.
 
Up Next
The Stags will make the short trip to Hamden next Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., to complete the home-and-home series with in-state MAAC foe Quinnipiac. Action returns to Alumni Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 1 for a midweek visit from Marist at 7 p.m.