VILLANOVA, Pa. – Led by a season-best .356 hitting percentage, Fairfield University Volleyball picked up its second consecutive 3-0 sweep with a straight-set triumph over Lafayette on Saturday evening at the Villanova Classic. KJ Johnson headed that effort with 15 kills on the outside swinging at a scorching .433 clip.
 
The Stags, who swept New Hampshire on Friday to open action in Philadelphia, improve to 3-2 with the win. Lafayette swept New Hampshire and fell to Villanova earlier the weekend, wrapping up the tournament at 1-2.
 
"This was a solid team effort," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "We got better as the match went on, improving from 11 errors in the first set to six in the second and only four in the third. And only eight attacks all night is a very strong performance."
 
Johnson committed just two of those errors on her 30 swings to rack up 15 kills. The reigning MAAC Player of the Year also picked up three digs and had a hand in three of Fairfield's seven team blocks.
 
"KJ played like her All-America self tonight," noted Kress. "She made cerebral shots and took advantage of every opening she was given."
 
In addition to Johnson's 15 kills, Mikayla Haut put down four on the outside with Joelle Battles and Sabria Cooper each landing two from the right side.
 
In the middle, Ella Gardiner had five kills on .308 hitting and Sara Daniels swung at 1.000 with four kills on four attempts.
 
The attack was run by Blakely Montgomery to the tune of 28 assists with one kill of her own.
 
Adding to the scoring effort, the Stags racked up six points from the end line. Morgan Doll served up three aces, Noelle Carey delivered two and Kyla Berg landed one.
 
Defensively, Gardiner notched four blocks with Johnson and Daniels each playing a part in three rejections. In the back row, Carey compiled 11 digs and Doll recorded 10 from the libero spot.
 
"I'm proud of our adherence to our serve and block gameplans, which were both significant pieces of our success," Kress added.
 
While Lafayette was limited to a .147 hitting percentage by the Stags, Abby Nieporte was a standout for the Leopards with 12 kills on 14 attempts (.786).  Nieporte also served up four aces to account for 16 of Lafayette's 43 points.
 
On Sunday, the Stags will play for the Villanova Classic Championship against the host Wildcats, who are also 2-0 this weekend. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.