LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – For the fifth time in seven years and the 12th time in program history, Fairfield University Volleyball has captured the MAAC Championship. The top-seeded Stags swept second-seeded Rider, 3-0, on Sunday in Loudonville to reclaim the conference crown from the defending league champion Broncs.
In total, Fairfield's conference-record 12 titles have come in the form of five straight from 1997-2001, back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, a three-peat from 2015-17, and then the 2019 and 2021 conference crowns. Head Coach
Todd Kress has been at the helm for a record seven MAAC Championships.
"I'm just overly proud of this team. We were pushed to the brink last night by Canisius and quite frankly were emotionally and physically exhausted," Kress said. "For the ladies to come out and play the way they did and execute a gameplan after the emotional fatigue yesterday, is a testament to their collective resiliency, focus and trust in one another."
The Stags defeated host Siena, 3-1, in Friday's quarterfinal round and rallied from a 2-1 deficit to top fourth-seeded Canisius in five sets on Saturday to reach today's final match.
KJ Johnson was named the MAAC Championship MVP after averaging 4.33 kills and 2.83 digs per set in the Stags' three-match run. The 2021 MAAC Player of the Year had nine kills on 27 errorless swings today (.333) along with nine digs and four blocks.
"My teammates were working so hard, and I just wanted to match their energy and be productive for them," said Johnson.
Johnson was joined on the All-Championship Team by
Manuela Nicolini and
Laura Seeger. Seeger was inserted into the lineup on the right side for Sunday's championship match and responded with 12 kills on .500 hitting. She was also a part of three blocks. Nicolini – the four-time MAAC Setter of the Year – dished out 36 assists and ran the attack to a season-high .404 hitting percentage. She also capped her 12th double-double with 10 digs and dumped over three kills of her own.
In the middle,
Ella Gardiner had seven kills at a .583 clip and
Luci Albertson put down three on her four swings in the first set before exiting due to injury.
Emily Schillinger also spent time in the middle and was 2-for-2 on her two attempts. MAAC Rookie of the Year
Mikayla Haut added seven kills from the outside.
"I'm beyond happy for Seeger and Emily in particular," Kress noted. "Seegs' 2019 season ended in the finals against Quinnipiac, so for her to contribute the way she did today in her last championship opportunity here is a feel-good story. For Emily, she wasn't going to play. Her abdominal injury was significantly worse after last night's match. But when Luci went down, she was the first one running off the sidelines to step in. She was truly selfless in the way she gutted it out, and she played a huge part in this win."
Defensively, the Stags were fueled by 13 blocks. Gardiner was a part of eight of those rejections with Johnson, Schillinger and Haut each getting a hand on four. In the back row, Nicolini's 10 digs led the way with Johnson and
Kyla Berg each adding nine. The stifling Fairfield defense held Rider to just .080 hitting for the match.
"I could go through the entire roster and highlight the contributions of every single member that contributed today, but I shared those thoughts privately in our locker room," said Kress. "So I'll sum it up with this: I have been coaching for over 25 years, and today was one of finest examples of a true team win, unmatched focus and selflessness. I can't wait for the next two weeks to keep training and get better before tourney time!"
Today's MAAC Championship win caps a 10-year stretch in which the Stags won seven of 10 conference titles. Fairfield is 19-2 in the conference postseason during the decade-long span.
The Stags will learn the opening round destination and opponent for their 12th NCAA postseason appearance on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 8:30 p.m. when the 64-team field is unveiled on ESPNU.
