NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Fairfield University Volleyball ran off its 15th consecutive win and remained unbeaten in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 3-1 victory on Friday evening at Iona. The Stags were led by the team-leading 12th double-double from setter Manuela Nicolini.
 
With the win by set scores of 27-25, 25-16, 19-25 and 25-21, Fairfield improves to 17-4 on the season and 12-0 in the MAAC. The defending MAAC Champion Gaels fall to 3-20 on the year with a 3-10 conference tally.
 
"I'm proud of our execution tonight at critical points during the first and fourth sets" said Head Coach Todd Kress. "In the month of November, it's all about embracing adversity, which we faced a lot of tonight."
 
Nicolini's double-double consisted of 34 assists and 16 digs. The senior guided the Stags to a .120 team hitting percentage. Fairfield's hitting corps was led by 13 finishers from Luci Albertson on .333 hitting from the middle. Joelle Battles added 12 kills from the right side, and the duo of Mayda Garcia and Laura Seeger pitched in six apiece.
 
To round out the Fairfield attack, Sonja Radulovic had five kills, Nicolini dumped over two from the setter spot, and Julia Kallen and Morgan Doll each landed one.
 
On the defensive end, Nicolini and Doll shared the team high with 16 digs apiece. Garcia added eight from the back row, and Kallen picked up seven digs. At the net, Albertson, Garcia and Nya Jones each got a hand on three of the Stags' eight team blocks. Kaylee Christie checked in in the fourth set and got a piece of the two blocks that closed out the Fairfield victory. The Stags' team defense limited Iona to a .111 hitting percentage.
 
Nicolini and Maddy Jerdonek each scored twice from behind the end line with a pair of aces apiece. Albertson and Kallen also each landed a service ace.
 
Cassandra Patsos had a match-high 15 kills for Iona, and Jamie Smith neared a triple-double with 14 kills, 17 assists and eight digs. Samantha Juran shared setting duties with Smith and doled out 19 assists. Jessica Paolucci led all players with 19 digs as the Gaels' libero.
 
Up next, the Stags will play their third match in five days with a Sunday, Nov. 3 visit to Manhattan. The Jaspers, who will host Quinnipiac on Saturday before welcoming the Stags, enter the weekend at 6-19 overall and 3-9 in the MAAC. First serve on Senior Day in Riverdale is set for 1 p.m.