WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Fairfield University Volleyball staved off defeat with a third-set win over Pac-12 foe Cal on Saturday at the Army Invitational. However, the Golden Bears salted the match away in the fourth frame to stunt the Stags' upset bid by set scores of 25-18, 25-19, 20-25 and 25-12.
The Stags, who defeated CCSU and host Army in yesterday's action, complete their opening weekend at 2-1. Cal swept the Black Knights last night in West Point and will bring a 2-0 record into today's pending matchup with CCSU.
The third set victory for the Stags marks the first time Fairfield has taken a frame from a Pac-12 opponent since claiming the third set at Utah – an eventual NCAA Second Round qualifier – almost exactly a decade ago on Aug. 31, 2013.
The Stags were led by the first career double-double from Svenja Rodenbüsch, who registered 10 kills and 13 digs on the day. Mamie Krubally also had her best showing of the weekend with eight kills.
In the middle, Elle Shult had her second straight match without an attack error and she notched five kills on eight swings. Shult also put down four blocks, with Maya Walker getting a piece of five of the Stags' nine team rejections.
Abby Jandro and Blakely Montgomery shared setting duties and finished 18 and 13 assists, respectively.
In the back row, Kyla Berg had 11 digs from the libero spot to join Rodenbüsch in double figures.
"The best part of today was the mid-match adjustments that our players made to our block and defensively. The third set was also the best that our offense looked all weekend, and that was against a very physical block," said Head Coach Nancy Somera. "We learned a lot about ourselves this weekend as well as where we need to improve. The list is long, and we'll start checking things off when we get back in the practice gym. Overall, it was a very good opening weekend."
How It Happened
SET 1 | A 1-1 start marked the only tie of the opening set, as the Golden Bears used an early 7-0 run to build a lead that they would not relinquish. The Stags climbed back to within two points at 17-15, but another Cal run -- a four-point spurt this time -- put the Bears back in command to close out a 25-18 frame.
SET 2 | Set 2 was more of the same, as Cal burst out of a 2-2 tie with six straight points. This time, the Stags would come all the way back to knot the stanza once again at 10-10, but the Golden Bears won five of the next six points out of the deadlock and held on for a 25-19 win to take a 2-0 lead.
SET 3 | In the third frame, the Stags stopped Cal's attempt at an early run, battling the Bears to nine ties in the first half of the set. Two kills by Janna Schlageter with a Shult finish in between staked Fairfield to a 17-14 advantage, and a late 4-0 run turned a 20-19 edge into a 24-19 lead. The Golden Bears thwarted the finish Stags' attempt at set point, but Rodenbüsch terminated the second to keep the match alive with a 25-20 triumph.
SET 4 | The Fairfield momentum carried on early in the fourth set, but the Bears made one last major run, growing a 9-8 lead into a 19-10 cushion to see out a 25-12 win in the frame and a 3-1 decision in the match.
The Stags will bring their 2-1 record back to Fairfield -- heading to the Pitt Center for a Thursday, Aug. 31 match at Sacred Heart. Next Saturday, Sept. 2, the Stags make their long-awaited debut at Leo D. Mahoney Arena with a visit from UMBC. The non-conference home slate also includes a meeting with Big Ten foe Northwestern on Sunday, Sept. 10.
Admission is free for all fans to all regular season home matches at Mahoney Arena this season.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
