FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Volleyball opens the 2019 season this weekend with three matches at the UMBC Invitational. The Stags will challenge Temple and the host Retrievers on Friday and close out the weekend against Lafayette on Saturday. The 2019 season is the 10th for Head Coach
Todd Kress – a six-time MAAC Coach of the Year.
"There has been positive energy and synergy on the court and in our locker room throughout the preseason," said Kress. "We are all looking forward to turning the page from last season and starting 2019 on the right foot this weekend."
Fairfield is coming off of a 14-16 season and an 11-7 MAAC record. The Stags were the fourth-seeded team in the MAAC Championship and won a pair of postseason contests before falling to eventual MAAC Champion Iona in the semifinal round.
The Stags were slotted for second in the 2019 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning four first-place votes to finish just three points behind Canisius on the ledger. Fairfield landed two Preseason All-MAAC honorees –
Luci Albertson and
Mayda Garcia. The list of returners also includes
Manuela Nicolini, who was the 2017 MAAC Setter of the Year and 2018 Preseason co-Player of the Year before missing the entire 2018 campaign due to injury.
Stags vs. Temple
Friday, Aug. 30 | 10 AM
Selected to finish eighth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, Temple is coming off of an 8-22 season with a 5-13 AAC record. The Owls return three of their top four attackers from last fall, including outside hitter Katerina Papazoglou, who paced the club with 2.43 kills per frame. Papazoglou's 2.91 digs per stanza are also the most among Temple returners.
Head Coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam welcomes back one of his two setters from last fall with Tyler Lindgren returning to the fold. Lindgren, who shared setting duties with Hannah Vandegrift, doled out 5.79 assists per set. Temple is also looking to replace libero Mia Heirakuji, who posted a team-leading 4.36 digs per set in 2018.
Fairfield last met Temple in 2008 – a 3-0 win for the host Owls in Philadelphia. The Stags are 1-3 in the all-time series, earning a win over their then-Atlantic 10 foe at Alumni Hall in 2004.
Stags vs. UMBC
Friday, Aug. 30 | 7 PM
UMBC went 7-19 overall and 3-7 on its home court in 2018. The Retrievers were 3-9 in the America East, landing at fifth of six teams in the 2019 edition of the conference's preseason poll. Second-year head coach Cristina Robertson brings an experienced squad to the court, including 2017 America East co-Rookie of the Year Carmen Freeman. Freeman posted 3.20 kills and 2.80 digs per set last season, tops among UMBC returners. Despite, the team's depth, Robertson is looking to replace starting setter Krytsia Negron (9.17 assists/set) and libero Kristin Watson (4.42 digs/set).
The Stags won their lone meeting with UMBC, taking a five-set clash from the Retrievers in 2005 on a neutral court in New Brunswick, N.J.
Stags vs. Lafayette
Saturday, Aug. 31 | 11 AM
Lafayette will be starting a new era this weekend under the leadership of first-year head coach Ryan Adams. The Leopards return their leading hitter in Grace Tulevech (3.16 kills/set), primary setter Julia Howard (7.43 assists/set), starting libero Audrey Mangum (2.61 digs/set) and top defensive threat at the net Kelly Austin (66 blocks).
Saturday's meeting will be the first between the Stags and Leopards.
Fairfield is back in action the following weekend with three matches in Malibu at the Pepperdine Tournament. In addition to the host Waves, the Stags will challenge California Baptist and Texas A&M.
