FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Volleyball team will host their first two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matches of the 2018 season when Manhattan and Iona visit the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall this weekend. The Stags will challenge Manhattan on Saturday at 1pm followed by a match with Iona on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.
 
The Stags return home after winning their first two MAAC matches of the season, most recently a five set comeback victory at Rider. Fairfield rallied from a 2-0 deficit and survived three match points in their win against Rider. Mayda Garcia posted her third-straight double-double with match highs in kills (25) and digs (21). For her effort, Garcia was named the MAAC Player of the Week for the second-straight week. The junior ranks second in the MAAC in both kills (3.64) and points (3.98) per set.
 
Fairfield actually swept the MAAC weekly awards with Taylor Rudeen taking home the MAAC Libero of the Week honors and Alexis Rich being named the MAAC Rookie of the Week for the first time in her career. Rudeen led the MAAC with 5.12 digs per set, totaling 41 in her eight sets. Rudeen led all players with 21 digs against Saint Peter's on Saturday. The senior also moved into the top-10 in program history in career digs as she sits at 1,276 heading into the weekend.
 
Rich orchestrated the Fairfield offense to the two wins with the squad hitting at a 1.51 clip. The rookie setter averaged 10.86 assists per set while also tallying 17 digs, five service aces, and three blocks on the year. Her 9.71 assists per frame ranks her 16th in the nation among freshman setters.
 
Fairfield vs Manhattan
Saturday, Sept. 22 @ 1PM
George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall, Fairfield, Conn.
Watch | Live Stats
 
Manhattan will be looking for their first victory of the 2018 season as they bring a 0-13 record into the second weekend of conference action. The Jaspers fell to both Iona and Saint Peter's by 3-0 scores.
 
Casey Monroe leads the squad with 1.52 kills per set while Erin Hoener paces the squad with a .173 hitting percentage.
 
Defensively, the Jaspers are led by Alyssa Rehrer who holds the team lead with 4.02 digs per set, a number that ranks her fifth in the MAAC.
 
All-time the Stags are 50-9 against the Jaspers, winning seven-straight matches with Manhattan's last victory coming in 2014 when they took both matches during the regular season before falling to Fairfield in the MAAC Tournament.
 
Fairfield vs Iona
Sunday, Sept. 23 @ 1PM
George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall, Fairfield, Conn.
Watch | Live Stats
 
The Gaels played just one match during the conference's opening weekend as they swept Manhattan in straight sets.
 
Iona is home to the MAAC's leader in kills per set with Claire Archibald posting 3.88 kills per frame and 4.19 points per set, which also leads the league. As a team, Iona ranks second in the MAAC in hitting percentage (.189) and kills (12.77).
 
The Gaels are the last team in the conference to defeat the Stags in 2015. Since then, the Stags have posted 54-straight victories against conference opponents during the regular season and tournament matches.
 
All-time the Stags are 43-14 against Iona.
 
Up Next
The Stags will travel in a mid-week contest to Marist for a match with the Red Foxes on Wednesday at 7pm.