CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Career-best performances from Mayda Garcia and Nora Quinn led Fairfield Volleyball to a 3-0 sweep of host Boston College to kick off the 2017 season. Skyler Day added a double-double for the Stags in their opening contest of the BC Invitational.
 
The Stags took the victory by set scores of 25-18, 26-24 and 25-16. The win marked Fairfield's second consecutive triumph over Boston College after dispatching the Eagles in five sets at the 2015 Fairfield Invitational. Tonight's win was the Stags' first victory on the road at an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent in program history and their first inside Power Gym since 1998 – when Boston College was a member of the Big East.
 
"I'm proud of our energy and effort today," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "It wasn't pretty at times, but it was nice to get the first match under our belts and to play with consistency when needed."
 
In tonight's match, Garcia sent home a career-high 10 kills from the right side – more than doubling her previous career best of four finishers. Quinn had five kills on .333 hitting (5-1-12) and had a hand in a personal-best eight blocks. Reigning MAAC Player of the Year Skyler Day led all players with 12 kills and completed a double-double with 10 digs.
 
To supplement the Fairfield attack, Luci Albertson and Kaylie Butts made their collegiate debuts this evening and each sent home two kills. Sonja Radulovic rounded out the offense with one kills.
 
The Stags' offense was managed by the setting duo of Manuela Nicolini and Sydney Buckley. Nicolini distributed a team-leading 14 assists and added three kills of her own. Buckley handed out 12 assists as Fairfield hit .159 as a unit.
 
Defensively, libero Taylor Rudeen led all players with 17 digs, and Radulovic added nine from the back row. In addition to Quinn's eight blocks, Manuela Nicolini had a hand in five send-backs, with Day and Garcia playing a role in two rejections apiece. Collectively, the Stags racked up 10 blocks.
 
To complete the scoring, Buckley landed two of the Stags' six service aces. Day, Radulovic, Butts and Rudeen each contributed one winner from behind the line.
 
Boston College, which was also opening its season in tonight's contest, was led by seven kills from McKenna Goss. Jane Dejarld doled out 10 assists as one of four Eagles with at least six assists – running the offense to a .086 clip. Jill Strockis led the defensive effort with 12 digs, and Ally Mullen had a hand in five of the team's nine blocks.
 
Action continues tomorrow at the BC Invitational as the Stags challenge Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) at 10:30 a.m. and Providence at 5 p.m. The Blazers and Friars met this afternoon at Power Gym with Providence taking a five-set win.