LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Playing in the MAAC Championship Match for the 21st time in program history, Fairfield University Volleyball had eyes on its 13th conference title on Saturday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. However, sixth-seeded Quinnipiac capped off its postseason surge and claimed a 3-1 victory to raise the MAAC Championship trophy for the first time.
 
The top-seeded Stags move to 25-7 and see their 12-match winning streak come to an end. Today's loss is Fairfield's first MAAC Championship defeat since 2018, having won the 2019 and 2021 titles and seeing their spring 2021 season ended due to Covid protocols prior to the start of the tournament.
 
The Bobcats will enter the NCAA Championship with a record of 14-14. QU has won seven consecutive matches, including victories over third-seeded Iona and seventh-seeded Rider to reach Saturday's championship round.
 
The Bobcats won the match by set scores of 26-24, 17-25, 25-22 and 25-17.

"I give all due credit to Quinnipiac, they played like they wanted to win a championship today and we didn't. Their gameplan was purposeful and methodical, and we couldn't make the necessary adjustments," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "I'm still very proud of this team. Four consecutive and seven of the last eight regular season championships as well as five of the last eight tournament championships is quite the standard to uphold. We will begin work very soon to get back to that standard. But for today, hats off to Quinnipiac. We wish them well in the NCAA Tournament and hope they represent the MAAC at a high level on the national stage."
 
The Stags were represented on the All-Championship Team by Sabria Cooper and Kyla Berg. Cooper averaged 2.33 kills per set on .339 hitting from the right side and got a piece of five blocks in her 12 sets of work. Berg donned the libero jersey in all three matches this weekend, finishing with 5.17 digs per set and also served up three service aces.
 
In Saturday's final, the Stags were led on the outside by Allie Elliott and KJ Johnson with nine and eight kills, respectively. Cooper also put down eight kills, with Sara Daniels adding seven on .385 hitting from the middle and right side.
 
Ella Gardiner chipped in six kills, Maya Walker had four on eight errorless swings, and Mikayla Haut checked in in the fourth set and terminated one.
 
Blakely Montgomery went 4-for-4 going over on two from the setter spot. She and Abby Jandro distributed 27 and 13 assists, respectively, guiding the Stags to a .189 hitting percentage.
 
Defensively, Berg had 16 digs with Montgomery adding 12 to round out a double-double and Elliott posting 10. The Stags racked up 13 blocks, led by six from Gardiner and five for Walker. Johnson also got a piece of rejections.
 
Rounding out the scoring, Berg, Daniels, Gardiner and Jandro each landed a service ace.
 
Quinnipiac was led by Ginevra Giovagnoni with 15 kills and 12 digs. Championship MVP Aryanah Diaz was just shy of a double-double with 10 kills and nine digs. Five Bobcats reached double-figure kills in total, with Damla Gunes dishing 48 assists and leading QU to a .193 hitting percentage. Her sister Yagmur Gunes led all players with 18 digs.
 
Fairfield won its fourth consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship in 2022, landing atop the league table for the 21st time in the last 27 seasons. The Stags lead all MAAC programs with 12 conference postseason championships and NCAA Tournament appearances all-time. Todd Kress was named the MAAC Coach of the Year for the ninth time, and KJ Johnson earned MAAC Player of the Year honors for the second straight season.