FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Volleyball erased an 0-2 deficit to force a deciding fifth set on Saturday at Leo D. Mahoney Arena against visiting UConn, but it was the Huskies who controlled the action in the final frame to escape with a 3-2 decision. Mamie Krubally led all players with a career-high 19 kills.
 
With the loss, Fairfield finished off a 2-1 week of home action, settling with a 5-3 overall record. The Stags hosted and swept Yale on Wednesday and took a four-set win over Northeastern on Friday evening at Mahoney Arena. UConn improved to 7-1 on the campaign with the victory.
 
"Whenever you battle back from down 0-2 and make it a match – that's competition, and you're going to win some of them and you're going to lose of them. But there's no winning if you don't buckle down, fight back, and give yourself the opportunity," said Head Coach Nancy Somera. "We'll address the things we could have done better, as we do after every match, but I am leaving this match and this homestand feeling positive about of our performance and our tenacity to come away with two wins and in a position to have won all three."
 
Krubally's 19 kills came at a .531 clip from the right side as one of three Stags to reach double figures. Allie Elliott put down 15 kills on .429 hitting, and Emma Bortolotti had 10 kills. Rounding out the effort at the pins, Katelyn Cook had seven kills and Lindsey Healey added one.
 
In the middle, Maya Walker was a presence in all phases with eight kills on .500 hitting along with six blocks. Sophia Nagy chipped in two finishers and Harlan Wyche had one.
 
Fairfield hit .351 in a high-powered offensive match, outgunning UConn's .313 clip. The Stags' attack was piloted by Abby Jandro with 27 kills and Zofia Sykut with 22. Delaney Moon pitched in from the libero slot with six assists
 
In the back row, Moon and Cook had 10 digs apiece, with Elliott chipping in eight and Jandro recording seven. In addition to Walker's six blocks, Elliott and Krubally had three apiece as Fairfield tallied a total of 10 team rejections.
 
To complete the point scoring on the day, Sykut served up a career-best four aces, while Elliott landed two, and Cook and Moon dropped in one apiece.
 
Emma Werkmeister led UConn with 18 kills along with seven digs from the 2024 All-Region and All-Big East selection. Audrey Rome notched 14 kills for the Huskies. UConn libero McKenna Brand had a match-best 11 digs and scored from the end line with four service aces.
 
Fairfield Volleyball concludes the non-conference schedule next week with visits to Bryant (Sept. 17) and Central Connecticut State (Sept. 19). The Bulldogs are 3-6 with a Sunday match against Stony Brook on tap before hosting the Stags. CCSU is 1-7 coming off a sweep of Holy Cross with matches against MAAC squads Merrimack and Sacred Heart preceding Friday's clash with the Stags.
 
Action then returns to Mahoney Arena as Fairfield opens MAAC play with three consecutive home outings against Merrimack (Sept. 26) and in-state foes Quinnipiac (Sept. 27) and Sacred Heart (Sept. 30).
 
Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Volleyball regular season home matches this season.