FAIRFIELD, Conn. – When perusing the Fairfield University volleyball schedule, certain teams jump out to the both the casual and knowledgeable volleyball fan. The Stags' non-conference schedule included the University of Missouri, Michigan State University, and James Madison University, a trio of teams that entered this weekend with a combined record of 33-6.

                While the matches did not result in wins for the Stags, Head Coach Todd Kress can now point to the experience gained against those programs as having an impact on how where the team is now as it continues play in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play. Fairfield improved to 3-0 in conference action with its three-game sweep of Manhattan College on Saturday afternoon, outscoring the Jaspers by 25-20, 25-17, and 25-14 counts.

                The three straight MAAC wins included a pair of road victories last week, including a five-set decision over Rider University that Coach Kress acknowledges as a key in the team's growing confidence.

                "Getting a couple of wins on the road that first weekend of MAAC play and really gutting out that win at Rider where we were down two games to none to pull out a 3-2 win  really helped our confidence," Coach Kress said. "Obviously we are in a different mindset now and in a different mental space that is allowing us to play with a little more confidence. I can see it in practice, the body language, the communication with each other and the trust level with one another is at a higher level now."

                The Stags showed confidence this afternoon with a pair of players registering double-figure kill totals and another teammate picking up a historic total of service aces. Sonja Radulovic registered 14 kills while Emily Schillinger added 11 kills to the team's victory. And, Luci Albertson collected seven service aces which are tied for the fifth-most in a single match in program history, and the most since Barbie Thistle picked up that same total in 2006.

                Fairfield scored 10 of the first 13 points of the initial set and seemed poised to make quick work in that opening set. But a gritty performance by Manhattan saw the team battled back within three points at 15-12. Coach Kress called a timeout which seemed to reset the Stags as they came out with five straight points to take command at 20-12 which included a pair of aces and a kill from Albertson. Fairfield would continue its surge and close out the match by a 25-20 score.

                In the second set, Fairfield used another quick start by taking 10 of the first 14 points to open up a 10-4 advantage. The lead grew to as many as eight at points after Radulovic put down a kill for the team's 15th point. The Jaspers showed some life with four straight points that cut the deficit in half at 15-11. Fairfield regained control and never allowed the visitors to come any closer and came away with a 25-17 decision in set two.

                The Stags opened up the third set with three straight points, two of which were a result of Manhattan errors, and never trailed from that point. Fairfield built their lead to 10 points, 21-11 when Sydney Williams found open space on the Jaspers side of the court. The Stags would eventually win the set by a 25-14 margin.

                The victory represented the team's first in conference play at Alumni Hall, a trait that Coach Kress knows is paramount in having any success within the MAAC standings.

                "We talk about it (winning at home) a lot and it's important to us and a lot of programs," Coach Kress said. "You want to win all your matches at home within conference and then if you are lucky enough, you go .500 on the road. If you do that, you put yourself in position to be near the top at the end of the season."

                Fairfield's next opportunity to play at home comes on Sunday afternoon when the Stags host Iona College. The match is scheduled for 1 pm.