HARRISONBURG, Va. – Fairfield University Volleyball was on the short side of a 3-0 decision to Missouri on Saturday morning at the Tropical Smoothie Invitational hosted by James Madison University.
Mayda Garcia led the Stags' attack against the Tigers with six kills to go along with five digs.
Fairfield falls to 0-2 after dropping its second match in 24 hours to a 2017 NCAA postseason qualifier. The Stags were clipped by the host Dukes – the back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association Champions – yesterday afternoon. Missouri (2-0) reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Championship last fall and enters 2018 receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Coaches' Poll to go along with a projected third-place finish in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Fairfield last opened a campaign against two straight NCAA qualifiers from the previous season in 2012 when they challenged Milwaukee and Duke to begin that eventual MAAC Championship season.
In addition to a half-dozen kills by Garcia,
Emily Schillinger pounded five finishers and
Sydney Williams contributed four from the middle.
Sonja Radulovic added three kills and
Julia Kallen posted a pair. Rounding out the attack were middle blockers
Nora Quinn and
Kaylie Butts with one kill apiece.
The offense was run by
Alexis Rich, who handed out 19 assists and dumped over one kill. The rookie setter filled out her statline with three digs and a service ace. Rich was one of three Stags to score from behind the service ace and Radulobic and Kallen each landed one winner.
On the defensive end,
Taylor Rudeen recorded a match-high eight digs and Radulovic had seven to pace the back row. Fairfield's lone block of the contest came courtesy of Garcia and Williams teaming up for a send-back.
Missouri was paced by Kylie Deberg with 10 kills, while middle blockers Leketor Member-Meneh and Alyssa Munlyn added seven and six, respectively. Munlyn, who was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2017, also had a hand in a match-leading six blocks. Jaden Newsome and Andrea Fuentes doled out 14 and 13 assists, respectively, while managing the Tigers' offense, and Riley Sents registered a team-best six digs.
The Stags will have a quick turnaround as they wrap-up the weekend at 5 p.m. against Delaware State. The Hornets are 0-1 following a 3-0 loss to Missouri yesterday and will challenge host James Madison this afternoon before tangling with the Stags in the evening.
After tonight's action, Fairfield opens the home slate on Wednesday, Aug. 29 with a 7 p.m. visit from crosstown foe Sacred Heart. Town of Fairfield residents in attendance will receive free entry into a drawing to win tickets to select Fairfield Men's and Women's Basketball games.
Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Volleyball regular season home matches.
