LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — Fairfield University Volleyball overcame a set one loss on Saturday afternoon at Rider, reeling off wins in the next three frames to take a 3-1 victory.
Mamie Krubally led the Fairfield attack with 13 kills, and
Maya Walker put down 12 finishers on .579 hitting.
With their sixth consecutive victory, the Stags improve to 11-4 overall and 5-0 in the MAAC, knocking Rider from the ranks of the MAAC unbeaten at 6-9 on the season and 4-1 in league play. The Stags join Niagara atop the standings as the two remaining teams with unblemished conference marks.
Walker was just shy of a double-double, posting nine blocks to go along with her dozen kills.
Abby Jandro facilitated the offense with 31 assists and completed a double-double with a team-best 12 digs along with a career-high five service aces.
Mamie Krubally added four blocks to her 13 kills,
Harlan Wyche talled eight kills with three blocks, and
Allie Elliott contributed a full statsheet with seven kills, nine digs and three service aces, rounding out her performance with nine digs.
In the back row,
Katelyn Cook posted 10 digs and
Nicole Macalintal registered eight from the libero spot.
While Rider never relinquished an early 3-2 lead in the first set, the frame was not without its share of drama. The Broncs opened up their largest advantage of the set at 18-11, but the Stags rallied back with kills from Wyche and Cook followed by back-to-back blocks to trim the margin to 18-15. However, the hosts won the next three rallies to double the lead at 21-15. Fairfield's final push was a five-point surge to shrink the gap to 21-20, but the Broncs responded with three straight to quell the threat and then closed out the 25-21 final.
The second frame featured nine ties, with neither team leading by more than two points out to a 19-19 deadlock. The Stags broke the stalemate with consecutive kills for Krubally, Walker, and Elliott, and the clubs traded points the rest of the way as Fairfield knotted the match with a 25-22 victory.
The third set was more of the same with 12 ties and seven lead changes during the stanza. One again, the final tie came at 19-19 before Fairfield emerged from the deadlock with the set's deciding run. This time, an Elliott service ace capped a 4-1 stretch that pushed the Stags in front, 23-20. Rider scored the next two points to keep the pressure on, but a Broncs' service error staked Fairfield to a set-point chance and the Stags cashed in with a block for Krubally and Wyche to claim a 25-22 set and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Stags carried their momentum into the fourth frame, racing out to a 14-8 lead to induce a Rider timeout. Fairfield kept rolling out of the stoppage, with the 25-14 final serving as the largest lead for either team in the contest.
Abby Jandro served up three of her five aces in the final stanza, and
Maya Walker helped close out the Broncs with a 5-for-5 set swinging from the middle.
Rider's All-MAAC First Teamer Kiannisha Santiago led all players with 18 kills and 17 digs. Makenna Mason dished out 42 assists for the Broncs, and libero Keegan O'Connor contributed 14 digs.
Next weekend, action returns to Leo D. Mahoney Arena to begin a run of four straight MAAC home matches. The Stags host Marist and Siena on Oct. 10-11 and welcome Iona and Manhattan on Oct. 17-18. Admission is free for all fans to all regular season home matches this season.
