FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After a 2-1 performance at the Boston College Invitational, Fairfield University Volleyball heads to Chicago this weekend for three matches at the Rambler Challenge hosted by Loyola Chicago.
 
Stags Start 2017 with Two Wins at Boston College Invitational
The Stags went 2-1 at the Boston College Invitational on Aug. 25-26, earning wins over the host Eagles and Alabama Birmingham (UAB) before falling to unbeaten Providence in the weekend finale. The straight-set victory over Boston College marked the program's first-ever road win at an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) team.
 
"I thought it was a great weekend and great opportunity for a lot of players to feel their way around the court, play a different position in some cases, and gain a lot of on-court experience," said Head Coach Todd Kress.
 
In Saturday's five-set win over UAB, Fairfield erased a 2-1 deficit – fighting off a match-point opportunity for the Blazers in the fourth frame – en route to victory. Several Stags reached personal career highs in the contest, as Skyler Day hammered home 25 kills, Manuela Nicolini distributed 53 assists and Taylor Rudeen recorded 32 digs.
 
For their performances throughout the weekend, Day and Rudeen were named to the BC Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 
MAAC Weekly Awards
In addition to All-Tournament honors, Day and Rudeen both garnered Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) weekly awards. Day was tabbed as the MAAC Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career, and Rudeen was voted as the MAAC Libero of the Week for the third time as a Stag.
 
"Skyler and Taylor both played quality volleyball all weekend long," Kress said. "Sky was getting a lot of swings and putting away a lot of kills, and Taylor did a great job leading the defense from the libero position."
 
The reigning MAAC Player of the Year and 2017 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Day was one of the most prolific hitters in the nation on opening weekend.  The senior co-captain of the Stags ranked fourth nationally with 5.36 kills per set, totaling 59 finishers in 11 sets of action. Day also averaged 2.68 digs per set en route to two double-doubles.
 
Rudeen led the Stags in the back row in all three matches last weekend. She averaged 5.55 digs per set from the libero spot, also handing out 11 assists and landing one service ace.
 
Rambler Challenge
Fairfield will face stiff competition this weekend in Chicago. The Stags will play Milwaukee and host Loyola Chicago on Friday before capping the weekend against Samford on Saturday.
 
"Consistency will be a key factor to our success this weekend," said Kress. "Last weekend, we had runs where we looked very good and had stretches where we were very inconsistent, particularly with our ball control and defense. We understand the great challenge ahead of us, but I know our team is ready for that challenge."
 
Fairfield vs. Milwaukee
Friday, Sept. 1 @ 12 p.m. ET
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The Milwaukee Panthers come to Chicago after four home outings to begin the fall. Milwaukee defeated Idaho State while losing to South Dakota State and Virginia Tech at their home tournament, and most recently registered an impressive 3-0 victory over Northern Illinois – the reigning Mid-American Conference Champion.
 
The Panthers have been led offensively by Caitlin Schultz with 3.81 kills per set on .288 hitting, while 2016 Horizon League Freshman of the Year Bridget Wallenberger has posted 2.94 kills per frame swinging at a .303 clip. Jenn Dore ran the attack to a .267 hitting percentage, distributing 11.00 assists per set. Defensively, Mykie Olsen notched 3.75 digs per set and Wallenberger led the way at the net with 17 blocks in 16 sets of work.
 
Fairfield at Loyola Chicago
Friday, Sept. 1 @ 6 p.m. ET
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Loyola Chicago takes its home court for the first time in 2017 after an 0-3 weekend in Berkeley for the Cal Molten Classic. The Ramblers took losses to Seattle, host Cal and UC Irvine on the West Coast swing.
 
2016 Second Team All-MVC selection Gabi Maciagowski represented Loyola Chicago on the All-Tournament Team last weekend after posting a team-best 3.36 kills per set and racking up a team-leading nine blocks. Elle Van Grinsven was the most efficient hitter for the Ramblers with a .378 mark en route to 1.92 kills per set in her first weekend of collegiate action. The offense was run through the duo of Delilah Wolf (3.82 assists/set) and Maddy Moser (3.73 assists/set). In the back row, Alex Nunez racked up 3.82 digs per stanza, with Moser adding 2.82.
 
Fairfield vs. Samford
Saturday, Sept. 2 @ 12 p.m. ET
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Samford – the defending Southern Conference Champion – went 1-2 in its season-opening home tournament last weekend. The Bulldogs bested Southeastern Louisiana before falling to Ohio and the 2016 Ohio Valley Champion, Murray State.
 
The attack was paced by Krista Boesing with 4.08 kills per frame on .215 hitting and supplemented by 2.67 kills per set off the swing of Kelsi Hobbs. Collectively, the Bulldogs were managed to a .204 hitting percentage by Taylor Anderton, who dished out 9.67 assists per set. Grace Tiesman helmed the back row with 3.08 digs per outing, and Sierra Rayzor was a force at the net with a hand in 15 of Samford's 21 team blocks.
 
A Stag Homecoming
Skyler Day, Kaitlyn Fisher and Nora Quinn will all be playing in their home state of Illinois for the first time in their Fairfield careers. All three Stags played their high school volleyball within 60 miles of Loyola's Gentile Arena.
 
"It's exciting for us to play in front of our friends and family, a lot of them will be seeing us play for Fairfield in person for the first time," said Day.
 
Fairfield's last visit to Illinois was a 2008 trip to DeKalb for four matches at the Northern Illinois Invitational. The Stags have not played within the Chicago city limits since visiting Illinois-Chicago in 2000.
 
Milestone Watch
After a big weekend on Chestnut Hill, Skyler Day is within striking distance of reaching 1,000 kills in her Fairfield career. The senior will take the court on Friday with 976 career finishers since joining the Stags in 2015. Day has a total of 1,076 collegiate kills to her name including her 100 as a freshman at the University at Buffalo in 2014.
 
Head Coach Todd Kress stands at 398 career wins over his 22 seasons as a Division I head coach. Kress is 398-269 (.597) in his time at Fairfield, Northern Illinois, Florida State and Buffalo. He is Fairfield's all-time leader in wins with 164 victories as the leader of the Stags, including four MAAC Championships (1997, 1998, 2015, 2016) and a conference-record five MAAC Coach of the Year awards.
 
Up Next
After their longest road trip of the season, the Stags will take their shortest road jaunt of the campaign with a Wednesday, Sept. 6 visit to Sacred Heart. The Pioneers are 1-2 on the young season with a win over Gardner-Webb and losses to Rider and James Madison.
 
Action then comes to George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall for the first time on Sept. 8-9 for the Fairfield Invitational. The Stags will host Washington State (2-0) on both nights of the tournament in addition to a Saturday afternoon clash with New Hampshire (1-2). The event features three teams that reached the NCAA postseason in 2016 with the Cougars and America East Champion Wildcats tangling with the host Stags.