FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Nora Quinn set the Fairfield University Volleyball rally-scoring era record with 13 total blocks and Julia Kallen amassed 19 kills – the most by a Stags' freshman since 2014 – to lead Fairfield past visiting Siena on Saturday afternoon, 3-1. Taylor Rudeen led the back row with 20 digs to move into fifth all-time in program history with 1,498 digs in her career.
 
The Stags took the match on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall by set scores of 25-17, 17-25, 25-15 and 25-13. With the win, Fairfield improves to 11-13 overall and 10-5 in the MAAC.
 
"First and foremost, our energy and team chemistry was vastly improved today compared to the last month. I think that the fact that we woke up today with a totally different lineup and new people in new spots helped us focus on playing to get better regardless of the result and to play with a purpose," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "I'm proud of the fact that we didn't blink an eye with seven players injured, and everybody stepped up and contributed."
 
"We need to keep working hard to get better down the stretch, but we're also going to keep getting healthier down the stretch," Kress continued. "It's all positive from me and all positive talk in our locker room right now."
 
In today's match, the defense set the tone with 17 blocks – the most by a Fairfield team since amassing 18.5 blocks against Saint Peter's in 2002. Quinn led the effort with a hand in 13 blocks (3 solo, 10 assists), while Kallen, Mayda Garcia and Laura Seeger each got a piece of four rejections.
 
Quinn's 13 blocks are the most by a Stag in the rally-scoring era. In the overall record book, she is just the fourth different Stag to reach the mark and the first since 1994. Laura Gleason holds the overall record with 18 blocks on Sept. 11, 1993. Thirteen blocks are also the most by a MAAC student-athlete since Quinnipiac's Allison Leigh racked up a baker's dozen against Rider in a four-set match during the 2013 season.
 
In the back row, it was Rudeen picking up 20 digs. The senior libero, who ranks third in the MAAC this season with 4.58 digs per set, surpasses Fairfield Athletics Hall of Famer Jen McLaughlin (1,486 digs) for fifth place on Fairfield's career charts. Rudeen has amassed 1,498 digs to date. She is 96 digs away from matching Jazmin Pa'akaula's fourth-place mark of 1,594 digs.
 
Also in today's match, Kallen had 12 dig and Sonja Radulovic posted 14 as each recorded a double-double. All told, the defensive effort limited the Saints to a .045 hitting percentage.
 
On the offensive end, Kallen's match-high and new personal career-best 19 kills headed the attack and marked the most for a Fairfield freshman since Megan Theiller sent home 21 finishers in a four-set win at Saint Peter's during the 2014 campaign. She hit .293 on the outside en route to her third career double-double.
 
Radulovic added kills fueled by a dominant performance in the deciding fourth frame. The junior had nine kills in the final set, hitting .500 (9-2-14) in the stanza to help propel the Stags to victory. Her double-double was also her third of 2018.
 
Garcia slid over to the middle in the revamped lineup – playing in that spot for the first time since her freshman campaign of 2016 – and contributed nine kills. Seeger also posted nine kills and Quinn sent home three.
 
The attack was managed by Alexis Rich, who doled out 51 assists to pilot the Stags to a .234 hitting percentage.
 
Sophia Hosokawa aided the scoring effort with a pair of service aces, while Garcia and Radulovic each served up one winner.
 
Siena (3-25, 1-14 MAAC) was led by nine kills from Nicole Deobler, who narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs in the effort. Jessica Eblin distributed 26 assists from the setter spot, and libero Jojo Ishida picked up a team-leading 18 digs.
 
Today's victory clinches the Stags' 23rd consecutive winning season in conference play dating back to 1996. The second-longest active run belongs to Marist, who locked up their sixth straight winning MAAC campaign (2013-18) with a win today.
 
"I think that streak speaks to who we are as a program," said Kress. "Each team has taken it upon themselves to not only continue the tradition but to work hard to better the tradition. It speaks volumes about our student-athletes not taking anything for granted and appreciating and upholding the efforts of those who came before them."
 
The Stags wrap-up the weekend and continue their four-match homestand tomorrow with a visit from Marist. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. with all of the action set to broadcast on the Stags Sports Network on ESPN+.
 
The Red Foxes, who were swept by the Stags in Poughkeepsie on Sept. 26, are 13-12 overall and 10-5 in the MAAC following a 3-1 win at Quinnipiac this afternoon.