FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After sweeping its way past visiting Canisius and Niagara to open the MAAC portion of the schedule, Fairfield University Volleyball hits the road for the first time in the league slate with weekend visits to Siena and Marist. The trek marks the start of a four-match road swing for the Stags.
 
The Fairfield University Stags (6-4, 2-0 MAAC)

• Fairfield's 2-0 weekend against Canisius and Niagara extended its winning streak to three matches overall.
• The sweep of the Griffs marked the 300th career victory for Head Coach Nancy Somera.
• Mikayla Haut hit .500 on the weekend with 15 kills on 26 swings and just two attack errors.
• On the season, Maya Walker leads the MAAC with 1.16 blocks per set. The Stags are the top blocking team in the conference with 2.22 rejections per frame.
• Fairfield's .313 hitting percentage on Sunday against Niagara was the team's best of the season.

 
The Siena College Saints (1-11, 1-1 MAAC)

• Siena began conference play with a 3-0 sweep of Saint Peter's to earn its first win of 2023. The Saints then dropped a 3-0 decision at Marist to level their MAAC tally at 1-1.
• Siena was tabbed for seventh in the MAAC Preseason Poll after finishing fifth in 2022 and falling to top-seeded Fairfield in the MAAC Championship Semifinals.
• The Saints return an All-MAAC outside hitter – Sara Wagner – while graduating All-MAAC right-side Emily Wunder.
• Wagner leads Siena with 2.48 kills and 3.10 points per set this season.
• Olga Sawinska has contributed 1.95 kills per stanza.

 
The Marist College Red Foxes (4-9, 2-0 MAAC)

• Marist rebounded from a 2-9 non-conference slate with sweeps of Siena and Rider to begin MAAC play at 2-0.
• The Red Foxes shared the top spot in the MAAC Preseason Poll with Quinnipiac. Marist was the second seed in the MAAC in 2022 but was upset in straight sets in the MAAC Championship Quarterfinals by seventh-seeded Rider.
• Marist is led by 2022 All-MAAC First Team pick and 2023 Preseason Player of the Year Sasha van der Merwe, who has posted a team-best 3.24 kills per set.
• Jordan Newblatt – an All-MAAC Second Team honoree in 2022 – recently returned from injury after missing nine matches.
• The Red Foxes graduated an All-MAAC performer as well in First Team hitter Gabrielle Heller.

 
The Matchups

• Fairfield swept Siena in the regular season in 2022 and added a third win over the Saints in the postseason to run its winning streak over the Saints to 20 matches.
• The Stags are 50-17 all-time against the Saints.
• Fairfield and Marist split the home-and-home series last fall, with each team winning on the other's home court. The loss at the RecPlex snapped a six-match winning streak for the Stags over the Red Foxes.
• Fairfield holds a 48-9 lead in the all-time series with Marist.

 
Up Next

• Another Empire State weekend is on deck for the Stags with a trip to Manhattan on Sept. 30 and a visit to Iona on Oct. 1.
• Manhattan is 2-10 overall and 1-1 in the MAAC heading into a weekend at Canisius and Niagara.
• Iona will embark on the Buffalo trip with a record of 6-7 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.