LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Fairfield University Volleyball set a rally scoring era record on Sunday afternoon with 18 blocks in a three-set match, propelling the Stags to a 3-0 victory over Rider. Individually,
Emily Schillinger's 11 blocks were the most by a Stag in a three-set match since the start of rally scoring in 2001.
With the win, Fairfield extends its streak to eight consecutive victories. The Stags are 7-0 in the MAAC and 12-6 overall after sweeping the season series from defending champion Rider. The Broncs, who had won seven straight since falling to Fairfield at the RecPlex on Sept. 18, now stand at 9-9 on the season with a 7-2 league mark.
"Yesterday, I asked our group what our identity is," said Head Coach
Todd Kress. "Are we going to be the best serve, pass and defensive team in the conference? Are we going to continue to take steps forward as opposed to occasionally taking significant steps back? Today I though we started to establish answers to those questions."
"When we follow a gameplan and focus on disciplined block hands, we can be the most physical blocking team in the MAAC," Kress continued. "Emily was a huge part of that effort today. Having just stepped into the middle spot three weeks ago and then leading the team with 11 blocks today is a tremendous accomplishment."
The Stags' 18 blocks eclipsed the prior three-set record of 13, most recently achieved in a sweep at Marist in 2019.
In addition to making her mark in the Fairfield record books, Schillinger's 11 blocks are tied for the most in a match this season in all of NCAA Division I. UTRGV's Vernoika Jandova also had 11 blocks (in four sets) in an outing this fall.
KJ Johnson had a hand in eight rejections, nearing a triple-double as she also led the Fairfield attack with 16 kills and picked up 11 digs.
Ella Gardiner got a piece of six blocks,
Manuela Nicolini registered five,
Luci Albertson had four and
Mikayla Haut notched one.
Offensively, Johnson's 16 kills came on .333 hitting for the MAAC leader in kills and points. Haut added 10 kills, Schillinger had five on 10 errorless swings, with Gardiner and Albertson rounded out the effort with two apiece. Nicolini ran the attack to a .236 clip, recording 31 assists with four kills of her own.
In the back row, the Rider attacks that made it through Fairfield's block were handled primarily by libero
Kyla Berg, who led all players with 17 digs.
Julia Kallen added eight digs with Nicolini and
Georgia Via each recording five.
In total, Fairfield's sterling defensive performance limited the Broncs to a .034 hitting percentage. Reigning MAAC Player of the Year Morgan Romano was stifled with just seven kills compared to 10 errors on her 33 attempts swinging at a -.091 rate.
The Stags' three-match road stretch concludes next Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Siena. Following that midweek clash, the Stags play six of their next seven in the Nutmeg State, beginning with an Oct. 16-17 series at the RecPlex against Manhattan and Iona.
