FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fairfield University Volleyball opened the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference portion of the 2025 schedule with a 3-0 sweep of visiting Merrimack on Friday at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. The Stags claimed the match by set scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-16.
 
With the win, the Stags open the MAAC slate at 1-0 as a part of a 7-4 overall tally. The Warriors slip to 2-8 on the year and 0-1 in league action.
 
"Merrimack served tough and got us out of system. Our serve-receive passing wasn't where it needs to be, but I thought we made smart decisions and didn't make errors by trying to force a big swing that wasn't there," said Head Coach Nancy Somera. "Both of our middles [Harlan Wyche and Maya Walker] had nice matches, and that opened up the pins for Allie Elliott and Katelyn Cook to get a lot of good looks."
 
Elliott led the attack with 18 kills on .531 hitting (18-1-32) from the outside, powering Fairfield across the finish line with nine kills on 14 attempts in the third set. Cook added six kills on 17 errorless tries (.363). Mamie Krubally and Emma Bortolotti supplemented the work from the pins with seven and four kills, respectively.
 
In the middle, Wyche and Walker had identical lines of five kills on .364 hitting (5-1-11). The Stags swung at an aggregate .337 hitting percentage, led by 26 assists for Abby Jandro, seven from Zofia Sykut, and six helpers out of the libero spot for Delaney Moon.
 
The Stags have hit over .300 in four of the last six matches, including back-to-back .337 efforts tonight and in last Friday's sweep at CCSU.
 
Fairfield served up nine aces this evening – one off their season-best 10 delivered in a five-set match against West Virginia. Daniella Suarez delivered four of those winners in a span of just five points late in the second set to help put the frame away. Cook added three from beyond the end line, while Jandro and Moon landed one apiece.
 
In addition to running the attack, Jandro led the back row defense with a match-high 18 digs. Moon chipped in 10 with Elliott and Cook each posting eight. At the net, the Stags had nine team blocks, fueled by five from Wyche. Walker had a hand in four rejections and Bortolotti played a part in three.
 
All told, the Fairfield defense limited Merrimack an .038 clip – the Stags' best defensive showing of the fall.
 
The Warriors' scoring was guided by their serving with 11 aces. Sophia DeBonis and Mckenna Shotwell each accounted for three winners. Shotwell was also one of four Merrimack hitters to share the team lead of four kills.
 
Fairfield Volleyball continues MAAC opening weekend tomorrow – Saturday, Sept. 27 – with a 4 p.m. visit from Quinnipiac. The Bobcats (3-9) are currently in action at Sacred Heart in their conference opener.
 
Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Volleyball regular season home matches this season.