FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Another strong tournament field awaits Fairfield University Volleyball as the Stags prepare for this weekend's Yale Invitational. Fairfield heads to New Haven to challenge Colgate and Yale on Friday and Saturday, respectively, then concludes the weekend slate back at Leo D. Mahoney Arena for Sunday visit from Villanova.
 
Admission is free for all fans at both Yale and Mahoney Arena this weekend.
 
The Fairfield University Stags (2-4, 0-0 MAAC)
Fairfield is coming off a second consecutive 1-2 weekend. The Stags defeated CCSU and fell to Boston College and tournament champ Binghamton at the Fairfield Invitational.
Allie Elliott was named to the All-Tournament Team and was tabbed as MAAC Student-Athlete of the Week after posting 3.00 kills per set on .241 hitting and 2.90 digs per set as a six-rotation outside hitter.
After this weekend, Fairfield will have played seven opponents with a 2023 final RPI of 104 or better, including five NCAA postseason qualifiers and four defending conference champions.
 
The Colgate University Raiders (1-5, 0-0 Patriot)
Colgate is 1-5 on the season, tackling a schedule that has featured four high major opponents (Duke, South Carolina, Kansas, UConn).
The Raiders' victory was a 3-1 home win over Buffalo last Saturday in Hamilton.
The three-time defending Patriot League Champions were tabbed as the unanimous preseason favorite in the conference this fall, led by Preseason Player of the Year Abby Shadwick.
Fairfield is 0-6 all-time against Colgate. The teams have only met twice this century (2010, 2013) after four meetings between 1992 and 1995.
 
The Yale University Bulldogs (1-2, 0-0 Ivy)
Yale opened its season last weekend in South Carolina, falling to Pacific and host College of Charleston in five sets before earning a straight-set win over USC Upstate.
Winners of the Ivy League in back-to-back seasons (and five of the last six), the Bulldogs were picked as the overwhelming preseason favorites in the Ancient Eight. Yale returns four All-Ivy performers to the lineup, including reigning Player of the Year Carly Diehl.
Yale leads the all-time series with the Stags, 11-7. The Bulldogs have won three straight (2002, 2009, 2018) to answer a five-game winning streak for the Stags in the series from 1998-2001.
 
The Villanova University Wildcats (3-3, 0-0 Big East)
Villanova split its first six matches of the year with wins over Loyola, Princeton and Binghamton as well as losses to Old Dominion, Santa Clara and Notre Dame.
The Wildcats have been selected eighth of 11 teams in the Big East Preseason Poll after a sixth-place finish last fall. Villanova is represented on the Preseason All-Big East Team by Abby Harrell, the 2023 Big East Freshman of the Year.
Fairfield's 2022 win at Villanova leveled the all-time series at 3-3. The Stags also earned victories over the Wildcats in 1998 and 1999, with Villanova then winning three in a row in 2003, 2004 and 2016.
 
Yale Invitational Schedule
Fairfield vs. Colgate: Friday at 4 PM at John J. Lee Amphitheater (ESPN+ | STATS)
Fairfield at Yale: Saturday at 5 PM at John J. Lee Amphitheater (ESPN+ | STATS)
Fairfield vs. Villanova: Sunday at 2 PM at Leo D. Mahoney Arena (ESPN+ | STATS)