FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Volleyball rolled past visiting Merrimack on Sunday at Leo D. Mahoney Arena, capping a 3-0 week of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action. The Stags swept the first-ever meeting with the Warriors by set scores of 25-13, 25-13 and 25-12.
 
With the win, the Stags improve to 7-9 overall and 5-0 in the MAAC. Fairfield is the last remaining unbeaten in conference play following Niagara's five-set loss this afternoon at Rider.
 
"The most important thing for us is to keep our standards high and perform at a consistent level, and I was happy to see us do that today," said Head Coach Nancy Somera. "Every team is going to give us their best shot, so it's up to us to respond to that."
 
Merrimack slipped to 1-4 in its inaugural MAAC season as part of a 2-14 overall mark.
 
Nine different players recorded a kill for Fairfield in the match, led by seven on 13 errorless attempts by Maya Walker. Janna Schlageter added six on 13 swings without an error, and Svenja Rodenbüsch hit .556 with six kills. Fairfield hit .378 as a unit, hitting better than .300 in all three frames while limiting Merrimack to a .031 hitting percentage and a mark under .100 in each of the day's three sets.
 
Supplementing the attack were Mamie Krubally with five kills, Katelyn Cook and Emma Beretich with four kills apiece and Harlan Wyche with three kills. Mikayla Haut added three kills on her only three swings of the day as the All-MAAC First Teamer played in only frame.
 
Blakely Montgomery dished out 19 assists in addition to one kill of her own, and neared a double-double with a team-best nine digs. Abby Jandro doled out eight assists in her part of the Fairfield 6-2 offense.
 
In addition to Montgomery's nine digs, Fairfield's defense was led by eight from Rodenbüsch and six for Cook. Noelle Carey got the start in the libero jersey and finished with five digs to go along with six assists.
 
At the net, Cook and Walker each had a hand in two of Fairfield's four blocks. Schlageter, Beretich, Wyche and Caroline Collins each played a part in one rejection.
 
Rounding out the Fairfield scoring, the Stags landed nine service aces on the day. Rodenbüsch dropped in three winners, Jandro had a pair, and the quartet of Cook, Montgomery, Natalie Carlin and Allie Elliott each scored once from behind the end line.
 
Merrimack was led by seven kills and seven digs for McKenna Shotwell. Morgan Thurlow added five kills on .500 hitting.
 
Up next, Fairfield Volleyball makes the longest trip of the MAAC regular season with the annual visit to Western New York on Oct. 12-13. The Stags challenge Niagara (8-8, 4-1 MAAC) on Saturday and Canisius (7-9, 3-2 MAAC) on Sunday.