FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Fairfield University Volleyball opened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with an emphatic 3-0 sweep of visiting Canisius on Saturday at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. The win marked the 300th career victory for Head Coach Nancy Somera.
With the win, the Stags improve to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the MAAC. The triumph was also the first for Fairfield inside the new Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Canisius drops to 2-7 overall and 0-1 in the MAAC with the straight-set defeat.
"I was very happy with the balance we had on offense. All six hitters were involved, and that's a credit to them as well as our setters distributing the ball and our passers for keeping us in system," said Somera. "Defensively, we have some things to clean up. But sometimes it's good to play a scrappy type of match and have success even when you're not playing your best."
Somera, who is in her first season leading the Stags, holds a 300-176 (.630) winning percentage in 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach. She amassed 105 wins in her eight years at the Power 5 level between Oregon State and South Carolina, and most recently racked up 190 victories in seven seasons building Johnson & Wales into a national Division III powerhouse.
"I am thankful to have had the opportunity at four different institutions to reach 300 wins," said Somera. "The wins may go to the head coach, but so much credit is due to a lot of dedicated assistant coaches and support staff over the years, and the talented student-athletes that I've had the privilege to work with on a daily basis."
In today's match, the Stags powered past the Griffs with a .263 hitting percentage, as all six of Fairfield's primary hitters recorded between four and eight kills. Svenja Rodenbusch led that effort with eight finishers on 16 errorless swings (.500). Mikayla Haut also swung at a .500 clip on her way to seven kills, and Allie Elliott put down six. In the middle and on the right side, Janna Schlageter had five kills while Elle Shult and Maya Walker each posted four.
Mamie Krubally added one finisher in one set of action, and the setting duo of Blakely Montgomery and Abby Jandro dumped over one kill apiece.
Montgomery doled out 14 assists and had a team-best 10 digs to register her second consecutive double-double. Jandro dished 10 assists in the 6-2 offense and added eight digs to the defensive effort.
The effort in the back row was just as balanced as the attack, with libero Kyla Berg posting eight digs, Rodenbusch adding six and Noelle Carey chipping in with four.
At the net, the MAAC's top blocking team recorded seven send-backs on the day, led by four from Maya Walker. Schlageter and Elliott each got a piece of two of the Stags' rejections.
Rounding out the scoring, the Stags rolled up six points from the endline. Carey served up two aces, with one apiece delivered by Elliott, Jandro, Rodenbusch and Danielle Suarez.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Despite facing a quick three-point deficit, the Stags used a 6-1 run to surge into the lead, and then rode strong service from Carey to a 7-0 stretch that put the frame out of reach at 20-12. A kill from Rodenbusch capped the opening stanza, 25-17, to stake Fairfield to a 1-0 lead.
SET 2 | The first point of the frame marked the only Canisius lead in set two, as the Stags took control at 4-3 and never looked back. Fairfield hammered 15 kills on .414 hitting while limiting the Griffs to a -.217 clip with only two kills compared to seven errors, coasting to a 25-9 win to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
SET 3 | The third set was the most back-and-forth, featuring five ties and two lead changes. After the Stags overcame an early three-point deficit, the Griffs responded to erase a five-point margin and eventually tie the match at 23-23. But an Elliott kill brought the contest to match point, and Jandro served up an ace to clinch the 25-23 win and complete the 3-0 sweep.
Up Next
The Stags round out MAAC opening weekend on Sunday with a 1 p.m. visit from Niagara. The Purple Eagles are 1-8 overall and 0-1 ijn the MAAC after dropping a 3-0 contest at Quinnipiac this afternoon.
This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
