LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Fairfield University Volleyball came all the way back from a 2-0 deficit at Rider on Sunday, shutting down three match-point opportunities for the host Broncs to complete a 3-2 victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action. The Stags' comeback effort was headed by 25 kills and 21 digs from
Mayda Garcia. Fairfield took the match by set scores of 19-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-23 and 19-17.
With the win, Fairfield improves to 3-8 overall and 2-0 in the MAAC. The Stags swept Saint Peter's yesterday in Jersey City to open the conference portion of the slate. Fairfield stands as the only road team to come out of the first full weekend of MAAC play at 2-0. Rider falls to 5-4 and evens its conference tally at 1-1.
"I'm not even sure where to begin after that match," said Head Coach
Todd Kress. "First of all, I thought Rider played well and showed incredible fight the entire match. We stepped up and matched their fight starting in the third set, and then never quit the rest of the way."
"The match clearly could have gone either way at the end," Kress continued. "I'm beyond proud of our team for making plays down the stretch to win tight sets in both the fourth and fifth to finish it off. As far as early-season MAAC wins go, this was a big one for us to get on the road. We will get better this week in practice and build off of this momentum."
Garcia's 25 kills and 21 digs mark her third consecutive double-double. The reigning MAAC Player of the Week added a pair of service aces and three blocks to her statline today. Supplementing the offense,
Luci Albertson and
Laura Seeger sent home eight kills apiece.
Emily Schillinger posted five kills, and
Julia Kallen and
Sydney Williams each added four. Rounding out the attack were
Sonja Radulovic with two kills and
Kaitlyn Fisher with one. The attack was managed by
Alexis Rich, who doled out 48 assists with one kill of her own.
The Stags also scored six points from behind the service line with two aces apiece for Garcia and Kallen and one each off the serves of Radulovic and Rich.
Garcia's 21 digs led a showing in the back row that also saw
Taylor Rudeen pick up 20 digs from the libero spot.
Sophia Hosokawa added 11 digs,
Julia Kallen had 10, and Rich was just shy of a double-double with nine. At the net, Albertson had a hand in seven of the Stags' 12 team blocks. Schillinger got a piece of five rejections, while Williams, Garcia and Rich were each a part of three send-backs.
"Mayda stepped up today and played the way we need our L1 to play. She was aggressive and accountable for her swings," noted Kress. "Equal praise goes to our freshmen – namely Schillinger, Seeger and Rich – who made big time plays when we needed it most."
Rider was led by 15 kills, 16 digs and four service aces from Savannah Logan on the outside. Anilee Sher ran the offense and doled out 51 assists to go along with 16 digs. Rachelle Runyon led the back row with 20 digs, while Danielle Blanco also recorded 16 digs for the Broncs.
Next weekend, MAAC action comes to George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall when the Stags host Manhattan and Iona. The Saturday, Sept. 22 clash with the Jaspers will air on the flagship Stags Sports Network while Sunday's meeting with Iona – a rematch of the 2017 MAAC Championship Match – will be broadcast live on ESPN3. First serve for both matches is set for 1 p.m.
