FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Volleyball extended its winning streak to double figures with a 3-0 sweep of visiting Manhattan on Saturday afternoon at the RecPlex. The Stag took the straight-set encounter by scores of 26-24, 25-13 and 25-16.
 
Fairfield's 10-match streak includes a 9-0 start to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference portion of the schedule, as the Stags hold a three-match lead in the standings at the halfway point of the double round-robin. Fairfield is 14-6 overall and has won 13 of its last 14 matches since a 1-5 start to the campaign.
 
In today's match, KJ Johnson set the pace on both sides of the net with 14 kills (.355), seven digs, two blocks and three service aces. The effort included six kills in the final frame to help put the match away.
 
Emily Schillinger led the way in the middle with nine kills on 18 errorless swings, also getting a hand on three blocks. Ella Gardiner played a part in four of the Stags' eight rejections in addition to hammering three kills.
 
The attack was managed for the first two sets by Manuela Nicolini, who totaled 19 assists, three blocks and a kill. Blakely Montgomery took the reins in the third frame and finished 11 assists and two kills of her own. In total, the duo piloted Fairfield to a .295 hitting percentage.
 
Georgia Via and Kyla Berg shared libero duties and paced the back row with 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
 
Rounding out the scoring, Berg landed two aces while Nicolini, Via, Alexis Rich, Julia Kallen and Morgan Doll each served up one winner from the end line.
 
The three-set win was not without its drama, as Manhattan (1-11, 1-7 MAAC) led for the majority of the first frame. The Jaspers' lead in the set grew as large as five points (9-4) and ran as late as 23-20. At that point, Fairfield ran off four points in a row fueled by two kills and a block from Schillinger to take 24-23 lead. The Jaspers fought off one set point before a kill from Mikayla Haut and an error on Manhattan's Erin Hoener sealed the opening stanza at 26-24.

The Stags would coast in the second set, leading wire-to-wire in a 25-13, while the third frame featured four ties and one lead change before Fairfield pulled away for a 25-16 triumph.
 
"Manhattan was purposeful in everything that they did. The obviously saw some of our defensive weaknesses on film, and they executed well," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "But having said that, I didn't think we came out with a sense of purpose today. It was the kind of flat performance that happens maybe in the beginning of the season, but shouldn't happen halfway through conference play. But we'll take a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly from today, and I'm confident that we'll come out tomorrow with more purpose and more energy."
 
Tomorrow's match features a 1 p.m. visit from Iona. The Gaels swept Quinnipiac this afternoon in Hamden to collect their fourth straight league win and move to 7-10 overall and 5-4 in the MAAC.
 
Fans who plan to attend Sunday's match are reminded that masks are required – regardless of vaccination status – when indoors anywhere on campus.