FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Volleyball opens a three-match week at Leo D. Mahoney Arena this Wednesday with a visit from Sacred Heart. First serve is set for 7 p.m. The Stags will be meeting their crosstown foe for the first time as a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent.
 
Fairfield University Stags (4-9, 2-0 MAAC)

• Fairfield put together a 2-0 road weekend with victories at Iona and Manhattan. The Stags topped the Gaels in four sets on Saturday and swept the Jaspers in Riverdale on Sunday.
• Fairfield was led in kills and digs in both matches by Mikayla Haut. The All-MAAC First Team outside hitter averaged 3.43 kills per frame and led all non-liberos in the MAAC with 3.71 kills per set.
• The Stags led the MAAC this weekend with a .289 hitting percentage. Fairfield's .412 clip at Manhattan was the best by the Stags in five seasons and the best by any MAAC team since Rider hit .450 in an upset of Marist in the 2022 MAAC Championship.
• Every primary hitter for the Stags swung at a rate of .242 or higher last weekend, led by a .500 hitting percentage by Janna Schlageter (10-1-18).

 
Sacred Heart University Pioneers (6-8, 2-0 MAAC)

• Sacred Heart also went 2-0 on the road last weekend, fighting back to a 3-2 win at Manhattan before sweeping Iona to complete a perfect trip.
• The Stags and Pioneers did not share any non-conference opponents, though Fairfield is slated to meet Bryant on Oct. 23. The Bulldogs defeated SHU, 3-1, on Sept. 13 at Army West Point.
• Camryn Luginbuhl leads the MAAC with 3.98 kills per set.
• Last season's NEC Setter and Rookie of the Year Gaby Zovko has filled out her statsheet with 1.59 kills per set on .202 hitting, 7.78 assists per frame, 1.96 digs per set, a team-high 21 service aces, and 22 blocks.

 
All-Time Series

• Last year's sweep at Sacred Heart improved Fairfield's lead in the all-time series to 13-5.
• Wednesday's meeting will be the first ever inside Mahoney Arena and the first on Fairfield's campus since 2018, with three straight encounters played at the Pitt Center in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
• Four of SHU's five wins in the series have come since 2016.
• Wednesday will be the eighth meeting in the last 10 seasons. The series was only halted during that span in the truncated spring 2021 campaign – in which no non-conference matches were played – and in 2022.

 
MAAC Notes

• Fairfield and Sacred Heart are two of four 2-0 MAAC teams, joined by Canisius and Niagara. There will be just two 3-0 teams entering this weekend, as the Griffs and Purple Eagles also play each other on Wednesday.
• The Stags and Pioneers were the only two MAAC teams to go 2-0 as the road team this past weekend.
• Eight of 12 conference teams will qualify for this season's MAAC Championship hosted by Siena from Nov. 21-24.
• The top two seeds will earn a bye to the semifinals, the third- and fourth-seeded teams will start in the quarterfinals, while the bottom four seeds in the bracket will all need to win four matches in four days to hoist the MAAC Championship trophy.

 
Up Next

• The Stags stay at home this weekend to host Quinnipiac on Saturday and Merrimack on Sunday. First serve is both contests is slated for 1 p.m.
• Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Volleyball home matches this season.