NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion Fairfield University began the 2024 MAAC volleyball slate on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 win at Iona.
Mikayla Haut paced the Stags on the attack and in the back row with 12 kills and 16 digs.
With the win, the Stags improve to 3-9 on the season and 1-0 in the MAAC. The Gaels slip to 2-11 on the year and begin their conference slate at 0-1.
Haut was one of four Stags to record a double-double on the day. Her foil on the outside,
Allie Elliott, finished 10 kills and 10 digs. Both Fairfield setters finished with a double-double as
Abby Jandro notched 25 assists and 13 digs, while
Blakely Montgomery had 21 assists and 10 digs.
Also helping to guide the attack,
Mamie Krubally put down 11 kills on the right side, and
Maya Walker ended the match with nine finishers at a .333 clip. Svenja Rodenbüsch and
Emma Beretich supplemented the offense with seven kills apiece. The Stags hit a collective .220 for the match.
Defensively,
Kyla Berg donned the libero jersey and notched 12 digs to make it five Stags to reach double figures in the back row.
Noelle Carey added seven digs and Krubally finished with six.
Beretich had a hand in a team-leading four of Fairfield's eight team blocks. Krubally, Rodenbüsch and Walker all played a role in three rejections. In total, the Stags' defensive effort limited Iona to a .165 hitting percentage.
Iona was led by double-doubles from Mija Jegers (16 kills, 10 digs) and Mackenzie Wiggins (15 kills, 13 digs).
After Iona took an early 11-8 lead in the first set, the Stags staged a six-point run fueled by two kills and a block from Walker. The advantage held to an 18-14 count before the Gaels put together their largest run of the frame – a five-point spurt to regain the lead at 19-18. Iona's final edge came at 21-20 before Fairfield made the run that proved decisive, winning the next four points to surge in front, 24-21. Iona fought off one set point before Haut's fifth kill ended the opening frame with the Stags taking a 25-22 verdict.
The momentum carried into Set 2 as the Stags won four of the first five rallies and never trailed. The Fairfield cushion grew as large as 12 points in the stanza en route to a 25-14 win to claim a 2-0 advantage in the match.
With their backs against the wall, the Gaels responded with an early 5-1 lead in the third set. The Stags answered with a 7-2 stretch to take their first lead of the frame at 8-7 and eventually built an 18-14 lead. Iona rallied all the way back, claiming a 23-20 edge. Fairfield's final push tied the stanza at 23-23 but the Gaels won the last two volleys to win the set, 25-23, and keep the match alive with the Stags holding a 2-1 lead.
The Stags put the Gaels away in Set 4 as they took an early 6-3 lead and never looked back. Iona did not go quietly, cutting a 20-12 Fairfield lead down to 22-19, but the home team would not score again as the Stags closed out a 25-19 set and a 3-1 win.
Fairfield Volleyball continues its opening weekend of MAAC play on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Manhattan. The Jaspers at 1-9 on the season with their conference opener set for 4 p.m. today at Draddy Gymnasium against league newcomer Sacred Heart.
