FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The non-conference schedule rolls on for Fairfield University Volleyball this weekend at the Villanova Classic. The Stags challenge High Point on Friday at 4 p.m. and then meet the host Wildcats on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both matches will stream live on YouTube.
 
The Fairfield University Stags (2-1, 0-0 MAAC)

• Fairfield is 2-1 on the season following a successful weekend at the Quest for the Crown.
• The Stags defeated host Old Dominion, 3-1, and knocked off perennial CAA power Towson in five sets before capping the weekend with a five-set loss to West Virginia.
• Allie Elliott was named the MAAC Player of the Week for her performance in Norfolk, tallying 2.93 kills per set on .290 hitting and adding 2.21 digs per frame – registering a double-double in all three contests.
• Fairfield was paced offensively by Mamie Krubally with 3.07 kills per set, swinging at a .260 clip from the right side.
• Harlan Wyche led all MAAC players on opening weekend with 16 total blocks and 1.33 blocks per set.
• In the back row, Katelyn Cook had a team-leading 2.86 digs per set.
• Five Stags made their Fairfield debuts this past weekend: true freshmen Emma Bortolotti, Nicole Macalintal, and Zofia Sykut, redshirt freshman Lindsey Healey, and sophomore transfer Sophia Nagy.

 
The High Point University Panthers (1-2, 0-0 Big South)

• The perennial frontrunner in the Big South Conference, High Point will bring a 1-2 record to Villanova. The Panthers opened at the DoTERRA Classic for the second straight season, falling to Central Michigan and host #19 BYU while earning a 3-1 victory over FDU.
• The preseason favorites in the Big South for the ninth consecutive season are led by five-time Big South Coach of the Year Ryan Meek. Graduate student setter Allie Gray is the lone returner of High Point's six All-Big South honorees from 2024. The Panthers won the Big South for the second straight season last fall.
• HPU bid farewell to three-time All-American and Big South Player of the Year Dylan Maberry as well as 2024 Libero of the Year Jordyn Schilling, Newcomer of the Year Arica Davis, and two more All-Big South honorees in BayLea Sparks and Eve Wilson.
• Fairfield and High Point met last season at BYU with the Panthers collecting a 3-1 decision to take a 2-1 lead in the all-time series.
• The Stags and Panthers split two matches during Fairfield's tenure at the RecPlex during the construction of Mahoney Arena. Fairfield earned a 3-1 win in 2021 and High Point came away with a sweep in the 2022 campaign.

 
The Villanova University Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 Big East)

• Villanova had an unbeaten weekend in South Bend with a sweep of Santa Clara and a 3-2 win over host Notre Dame.
• The Wildcats were tabbed to finish fifth in the Big East following a sixth-place finish (17-14, 9-9) last season.
• Villanova welcomes back 2024 All-Big East pin hitter Abby Harrell and 2024 All-Freshman middle Campbell McKinnon, both of whom were named Preseason All-Big East last month.
• A 3-1 win for the Wildcats last season at Mahoney Arena put Villanova on top in the all-time series, 4-3. Fairfield is 2-1 all-time against the 'Cats in Pennsylvania, including a five-set win at the Villanova Classic in 2022 to win the tournament, which also included New Hampshire and Lafayette.

 
Points of Interest

• Fairfield will only play two matches this weekend at the four-team Villanova Classic. The Stags and in-state foe Yale agreed to move their match from Pennsylvania to Leo D. Mahoney Arena, where they will go head-to-head on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
• Two wins this weekend would match Fairfield's best start since the spring 2021 team went 9-1 playing only MAAC matches in a campaign truncated due to Covid-19 protocols. The Stags last won four of their first five non-conference contests in 1999, when that edition of the squad opened its fall at 12-0.

 
Up Next

• The Wednesday, Sept. 10 visit from Yale kicks off the home slate and opens a three-match week at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.
• Fairfield will also host Northeastern on Friday, Sept. 12 and UConn on Saturday, Sept. 13.
• The Stags will honor their 2024 MAAC Championship Team prior to Friday's 6 p.m. meeting with Northeastern, which is led by former Fairfield assistant coach Brendan McGourn.