FAIRFIELD, Conn. – George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall will host its first full weekend of MAAC action as Fairfield University Volleyball welcomes Manhattan and Iona. The Stags will challenge the Jaspers on Saturday and the defending conference champion Gaels on Sunday. First serve for both matches is set for 1 p.m.
 
Herd For a Cure
Sunday's match with the Gaels is the Stags' annual Herd For a Cure match. The department-wide initiative partners the Stags with the Norma Pfriem Breast Center. T-shirts ($10, cash only) and raffle tickets will be on sale in the lobby on Sunday with all proceeds to benefit the Center.
 
Stags Surge to 3-0 in the MAAC
With Saturday's sweep of Quinnipiac, the Stags ran their winning streak to six matches, improving to 3-0 in the MAAC and 8-4 overall. Fairfield is hitting .231 during conference play, led by a .364 clip from Luci Albertson en route to 1.50 kills per set. Mayda Garcia has been the Stags' most prolific hitter with 3.70 kills per frame in the wins over Marist, Siena and Quinnipiac.
 
The Stags' 3-0 start to the league slate has been bolstered by its defensive effort. The Stags are averaging over three blocks per set, headed by Luci Albertson (14 blocks), Kaylie Butts (13) and Manuela Nicolini (12).
 
Overall in 2019, Fairfield boasts the second-best team hitting percentage at .196. Albertson's .331 clip is second on the individual leaderboard, with Laura Seeger averaging a team-best 3.00 kills per frame. Nicolini has managed the attack with 9.87 assists per set.
 
Defensively, Butts leads the MAAC with 1.04 blocks per frame, posting 49 rejections in 47 sets. A balanced effort in the back row is guided by 3.09 digs per set from Morgan Doll out of the libero spot and 2.97 per frame by Garcia. In total, Fairfield's defense has limited opponents to a conference-best .175 hitting percentage.
 
Stags vs. Manhattan
Saturday, Oct. 5 | 1 PM
Stags Sports Network | Live Stats
 
A 3-0 loss at Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday was the latest in a 10-match skid for the Jaspers, who come to Alumni Hall with a record of 2-13. Manhattan is 0-4 in the MAAC with home losses to Saint Peter's, Rider, Niagara and Canisius.
 
The Jaspers are led offensively in 2019 by Vivian Donovan's 2.41 kills per set. Erin Hoener adds 2.23 kills per frame on a .244 hitting percentage. As a unit, Manhattan is hitting .136 piloted primarily by setter Abby Wilde to the tune of 7.38 assists per frame. Libero Nashally Eleutiza guides the back row with 4.14 digs per stanza, and Hoener paces the effort at the net with a hand in 50 of the Jaspers' 89 team block.
 
Three wins over the Jaspers in 2018 – including the opening round of the MAAC Championship – ran Fairfield's streak to 11 in a row over Manhattan. The Stags are 53-9 all-time in the series dating back to 1985, including a 21-1 mark at Alumni Hall. Spanning both of his terms on the sidelines, Head Coach Todd Kress is 15-3 against Manhattan.
 
Stags vs. Iona
Sunday, Oct. 6 | 1 PM
ESPN3 | Live Stats
 
Iona, which will open the weekend at Quinnipiac before Sunday's meeting with the Stags, enters the weekend at 1-13 overall and 1-3 in the MAAC.  Most recently, the Gaels dropped both ends of a home weekend against Canisius and Niagara.
 
Jamie Smith has filled out the statsheet for the Gaels with a team-high 2.90 kills per set to go along with 1.84 digs and 1.39 assists per stanza as well as 28 total blocks. Karla Johnson is hitting a team-high .294 with a hand in 43 of Iona's 81 team blocks. Maile Powell and Samantha Juran have shared setting duties, amassing 5.37 and 4.12 assists per set, respectively.
 
In the back row, Jessica Paolucci averages a team-leading 3.31 digs per set.
 
The Stags and Gaels split the season series in 2018 with Iona taking the rubber match in the MAAC Championship Semifinals. Overall, Fairfield is 44-16 against Iona since 1985 including a 22-2 record at Alumni Hall. Kress is 12-4 all-time against the Gaels.
 
Up Next
Next weekend, the Stags resume the road portion of the MAAC schedule with a swing through the conference's New Jersey contingent. Fairfield visit Saint Peter's on Saturday and Rider on Sunday.