FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to the pool on Saturday for their first dual meet of the 2022-23 season, hosting Monmouth University at noon. The dual meet will be the first of seven meets slated for the campaign.

The Stags are coming off a very successful season opening performance at their own Fairfield Invitational, a meet which included six women's teams and four men's teams. Fairfield finished first on both sides of the invitational with the women scoring 508 points which was more than 120 points better than runner up Central Connecticut State University. The men's squad collected 686 points in the meet with Southern Connecticut State University taking second place off its 335 team points. 

Three Fairfield student-athletes received weekly honors from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) for their performances in the Fairfield Invitational. Alexey Belfer earned the Men's Swimmer of the Week after winning the 50 free (23.11) and the 100 free (51.97) as well as being part of the 200 medley relay (1:45.06) and the 400 free relay (3:31.83).

Erini Pappas won four events in the Invitational to help her garner the MAAC Women's of the Week following her performances in the 100 (1:05.06) and 200 (2:20.53) backstroke as well as the 200 IM (2:23.9). She contributed to the 200 medley relay team victory which set a meet record of 2:01.13. Lia Oppenheim garnered the Women's Diver of the Week by taking second place in the 3 meter during which she earned 235.35 points and fifth in the 1 meter with 201.55 points. 


Monmouth University will be opening their season this weekend, the first of nine dates on the 2022-23 docket. The Hawks will compete in  seven dual meets as well as the ECAC Winter Championships and the CAA Championships. The Monmouth men's team finished the 2021-22 campaign with  5-3 overall record that included a perfect 4-0 mark during home dates. The Hawks' women's team owned a 3-5 overall record a year ago with two of those wins coming at home and one victory taking place on the road.

Following this weekend's meet with Monmouth, the Stags will take to the road for the first time when they travel to Providence College on Friday, October 28 before hosting the College of the Holy Cross for a 1 pm meet.