FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's and women's swimming and diving teams will begin the dual meet portion of their schedules this weekend, beginning with a match up against Monmouth University on Friday afternoon. Before returning to campus, the Stags will make a stop at Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponent Rider University on Saturday afternoon. 

"Rider hasn't been on our schedule for a couple of years," Head Coach Jacy Dyer said. "Their men's team won the MAAC for 11 years straight years and their women are also very competitive so both teams will challenge us to be at our best. Monmouth is also always competitive and it's a meet where we now that we will have to be at our best especially on the second-day of consecutive meets. We are looking forward to going against these two programs to start the dual meet part of our schedule."

The Stags are coming off their season opening Fairfield Invitational which saw both the men's and women's teams come away with first-place finishes. The Invitational featured Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Sacred Heart University. Fairfield won 24 of the 32 events at the Invitational including all four relays.

Joseph Stewart picked up first-place finishes in the 200 free (1:53.55) and the 400 free (4:16.51) while newcomer Andrew Cataldo made his mark on the diving program by taking the top spot in the both 3 meter (214.20 points) and the 1 meter (220.45 points) dives.

On the women's side, graduate student Nora Segurola Larrinaga caught the attention of everyone by taking first place in the 200 back (2:20.28) and the 100 back (1:05.40) in addition to being part of the two record-setting relay team victories - 200 medley (1:59.16) and the 400 free relay (4:00.82). Lily Tonole also experienced strong showings in her first competition with the program as the freshman took second in the 3 meter dive (204.50 points) and fourth in the 1 meter dive (195.30 points).

Upon arriving home following this dual meet weekend, the Stags will have a week off before preparing for two more competitions the weekend of October 27-28. Fairfield will start that weekend with home date against Providence College on October 27 and follow up by hosting Wagner College for a meet on October 28. The Stags do not get back to Invitational mode until mid-November when they make their annual trip to Boston University's Terrier Invitational from November 17-19.