FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the second time in 11 days, Fairfield University Volleyball will challenge the Iona Gaels in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action. This time, the setting is Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, where the Stags will be hosting their second of four consecutive MAAC home contests. First serve on Wednesday, Oct. 11 is slated for 7 p.m.
 
Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Volleyball regular season home matches this season.
 
The Fairfield University Stags (10-5, 6-1 MAAC)

• Fairfield opened the homestand on Friday evening with a 3-1 win over defending MAAC Champion Quinnipiac. Mikayla haut led the attack for the Stags with 19 kills on .421 hitting.
• In 22 sets against MAAC opponents this year, Haut is hitting .322 from the pins with 3.00 kills per frame.
• Kyla Berg had a match-best 25 digs against Quinnipiac. She ranks fourth in the MAAC with 3.58 digs per frame.
• Fairfield leads the MAAC in hitting percentage (.194), blocks (2.36/set) and opponent hitting percentage (.160). MAAC opponents are hitting just .113 against the Stags.
• The Stags are one of three teams tied in the loss column atop the MAAC standings. Marist is currently 7-1, while Fairfield and Quinnipiac are just a half-game behind at 6-1. The three teams are all 1-1 against each other and will all meet again during the second half of the MAAC slate.

 
The Iona University Gaels (8-11, 4-4 MAAC)

• Iona most recently split a road weekend at Marist and Siena to stay level at 4-4 in the MAAC.
• The Gaels are paced offensively by Mackenzie Wiggins with 3.34 kills per set.
• Defense is a hallmark of Iona's success, with national leader Hope Matschner putting up 6.46 digs per frame. Opponents are hitting .163 against the Gaels.
• In addition to losses to the MAAC's top three – Fairfield, Marist and Quinnipiac – the Gaels have also dropped a conference match at Niagara. Iona's league wins have come over Rider, Saint Peter's, Canisius and Siena.

 
The First Meeting: Fairfield 3, Iona 0 (Oct. 1, 2023)

• Fairfield broke a 23-23 deadlock in Set 1, then overcame a 17-10 deficit in Set 2 en route to a sweep of host Iona on Sunday, Oct. 1.
• Mikayla Haut had a double-double with 10 kills and a team-leading 12 digs.
• Allie Elliott led all players with 12 kills.
• The Fairfield defense limited Iona to a .076 hitting percentage.
• Jen Soto had a team-best 10 kills for the Gaels, with Hope Matschner recording a match-high 17 digs.

 
Up Next

• Fairfield rounds out the four-match homestand this weekend with visits from Rider and Saint Peter's. Both matches are slated for a 1 p.m. first serve.
• Rider is 5-11 overall and 4-4 in the MAAC.
• The Peacocks, who will visit Marist and Quinnipiac before coming to Mahoney Arena, are still seeking their first win of the campaign at 0-19.