JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Fairfield University Volleyball ran its winning streak to nine matches in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 sweep at Saint Peter's on Saturday afternoon in Jersey City. The Stags also remained unbeaten in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, topping the Peacocks by set scores of 25-23, 25-19 and 25-16.
 
After their fourth consecutive straight-set win, the Stags improve to 11-4 overall and 6-0 in the MAAC. Saint Peter's falls to 3-15 on the campaign with a 1-6 conference tally. Fairfield and Canisius (9-9, 6-0 MAAC) currently share first place as the league's final two unbeaten clubs.
 
Manuela Nicolini managed an efficient attack this afternoon, as the Stags hit .242 as a team. Nicolini dished out 38 assists to go along with two kills of her own. The senior setter currently leads the MAAC with 10.17 assists per frame.
 
Nicolini's top option today was Joelle Battles, who sent home a team-best 11 kills on .360 hitting. In the middle, Kaylie Butts and Luci Albertson added 10 and nine kills, respectively, to the attack. Julia Kallen and Laura Seeger each posted seven kills, and Sonja Radulovic landed one to compliment the offense.
 
The Stags also scored seven points from behind the end line, led by three service aces from Morgan Doll. Nicolini added a pair of winners, with Kallen and Maddy Jerdonek each landing one.
 
Defensively, Jamie Calandro led all players with 17 digs, and Radulovic picked up 14. Doll totaled 12 digs as the Stags libero, as did Kallen. Nicolini was the fifth Stag with double-digit digs, recording 10 to complete her eighth double-double of the fall.
 
At the net, Nicolini and Albertson each had a hand in three of Fairfield's five team blocks. Butts got a piece of two rejections, with Battles and Seeger each a part of one send-back. In total, the Fairfield defense limited the Peacocks to .138 hitting. The Stags lead the conference with opponents hitting .166 against them this fall.

"I thought our defensive effort was big part of today's match," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "Seventy-three digs in a three-set match is a big number, and our defense as a whole is what allowed us to gain control after a tight first set."
 
Angeleyshka Cubelo led all players with 12 kills for Saint Peter's. Wildalys Soto doled out 23 assists for the hosts and Karla Seda notched 16 digs as the Peacocks' libero.
 
The Stags are back in action in the Garden State tomorrow afternoon at Rider. The Broncs, who swept Quinnipiac today in Lawrenceville, are 7-12 overall and 4-3 in the MAAC. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. live on ESPN+.