FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After traveling nearly 3,000 miles from campus for three matches at Pepperdine, Fairfield University Volleyball will take to its home court for the first time this weekend for a pair of contests on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall. The Stags are set to host Northeastern and NJIT before capping the weekend across town at Sacred Heart.
 
Fairfield is coming off of an 0-3 weekend against stiff competition at the Pepperdine Tournament. The Stags fell 3-2 to Cal Baptist, took the first frame from the host Waves in an eventual 3-1 loss, then was swept in a competitive match against the SEC's Texas A&M. Playing in her home state of California, Joelle Battles represented the Stags on the All-Tournament Team. The rookie averaged 2.45 kills per set with four blocks and five digs in 12 sets of action.
 
Stags vs. Northeastern
Friday, Sept. 13 @ 6 p.m.
George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall
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Following a five-set loss to New Hampshire on Tuesday, Northeastern comes to Alumni Hall with a record of 4-3. The Huskies recently swept the competition at the Seton Hall Classic (Northern Arizona, Binghamton, Seton Hall) and also hold a win over Indiana State. Northeastern went 16-14 overall and 9-7 in the CAA last season.
 
Brianna Daphnis has led the Huskies offensively with 2.86 kills per set on .310 hitting. 2018 All-CAA Third Team performer Natalie Shollin adds 1.71 kills per frame from the middle, hitting at a team-best .330 clip. The attack has been run to a .218 hitting percentage by the setting duo of Liz Carroll and Samantha Shupe with 5.36 and 4.71 assists per set, respectively.
 
On the defensive end, Clare Lund has posted a team-leading 4.82 digs per set. Shollin heads the effort at the net with a hand in 33 of the team's 57 blocks to date.
 
Fairfield is 5-8 all-time against Northeastern since 1989. Last year's meeting at Alumni Hall – a four-set win for the Huskies – renewed a series that had been dormant since 2008.
 
Stags vs. NJIT
Saturday, Sept. 14 @ 11 a.m.
George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall
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NJIT will begin the weekend at 1-7, most recently dropping a 3-2 decision at Lehigh. The Highlanders' victory this fall is a five-set win at Fairleigh Dickinson, while their setbacks include losses to Quinnipiac and St. John's. NJIT was 4-28 on the season with a 2-14 record in the Atlantic Sun.
 
Sarah Merritt and Madi Busler have keyed the NJIT offense with 2.42 and 2.36 kills per set, respectively. Liz Benson's 7.50 assists per set pace the attack to a .147 clip. In the back row, Olivia Welsch leads the way with 3.00 digs per frame, while Benson adds 2.41 from the setter spot. Courtney Branch has been a part of 27 blocks, nearly half of the Highlanders' 53 team rejections.
 
Fairfield is 3-0 against the Highlanders, who will be making their first visit to Alumni Hall. The Stags defeated NJIT on a neutral court in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
 
Stags at Sacred Heart
Saturday, Sept. 14 @ 6 p.m.
Pitt Center
NEC Front Row | Live Stats
 
Sacred Heart will open its home slate with a record of 2-4. The Pioneers have earned wins over Rider and Rhode Island while dropping contests to Georgetown, Central Arkansas, Harvard and Colgate. Sacred Heart was 17-10 in 2018 and 9-5 in the Northeast Conference. The Pioneers' campaign ended in the NEC Championship Match with a 3-0 loss to Bryant.
 
Jillian Kim and 2018 All-NEC First Teamer Liisel Nelis have paced the Sacred Heart attack with 2.78 and 2.61 kills per set, respectively. The reigning NEC Rookie and Setter of the Year Sarah Ciszek is running the offense to a .162 clip with 8.54 assists per stanza. Defensively, Emma Smallcomb leads the back row with 3.71 digs per frame, while Gianna Scioletti has been a part of 16 of the squad's 35 blocks.
 
The Stags are 12-7 all-time against Sacred Heart, though the Pioneers have taken the last three meetings. Prior to that recent run, Fairfield had put together an eight-match winning streak against its crosstown foe consisting of four-straight victories from 1992-95 and again from 2009-15.
 
Up next, the Stags begin the MAAC slate with trips to Marist on Sept. 20 and Siena on Sept. 22.