FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the second time this season, Fairfield University Volleyball earned a 3-2 victory over crosstown foe Sacred Heart. Tonight, the stage was Leo D. Mahoney Arena as the Stags rode a record-setting performance from
Harlan Wyche and contributions from 13 different players to a win by set scores of 19-25, 25-23, 25-17, 21-25, and 15-9.
With the win, Fairfield improves to 12-0 in the Metro Conference as a part of an 18-5 overall record. Sacred Heart slips to 14-10 on the season and 7-5 in league action.
"We have a very competitive practice gym, and I think we showed the product of that environment tonight. Everybody is ready when their number is called to get out on the court and make an impact," said Head Coach
Nancy Somera. "Our depth has been a huge part of our success, and that needs to continue as we get deeper into the season and see these conference opponents for the second time. Every adjustment and counter-adjustment can make a difference."
One standout showing came at the net from
Harlan Wyche, who made a dent in several places in the Fairfield Volleyball record book with a hand in 14 of the Stags' 17 blocks. She set a new Fairfield single- match "rally scoring era" record and put down the most blocks in a match by a Stag overall since 1994.
Wyche's 129 blocks this season are also a new rally-scoring era record and tied for fourth on the all-time single-season list. Only Hall of Famer Laura Gleason has ever surpassed 129 blocks in a single season, doing so in three campaigns from 1992-94, including the program record of 177 in 1994. On the career charts, Wyche moved into 10th place all-time with 298 career rejections.
The Stags' dominance at the net also included five blocks apiece from
Mamie Krubally and
Lindsey Healey, while
Emma Bortolotti and
Aislin Oldach each got a hand on four of the Stags' 17 stuffs.
The back row defense was led by
Katelyn Cook with 21 digs from the libero spot.
Natalie Carlin pitched in 13 digs and Oldach had eight in the five-set clash.
Offensively, eight different Stags registered a kill led by 17 on .400 hitting by
Mamie Krubally. Krubally entered the day as the only player in the nation with more than 500 swings to boast a hitting percentage of .400 or better.
Healey entered the match as a substitution in Set 1 and remained on the left pin throughout the contest. She finished with a career-high 14 kills and also registered career bests with her five blocks and four digs.
Krubally went 4-for-5 in the deciding fifth set and Healey was 3-for-3 to help close out the Pioneers. Fairfield hit .600 in the final frame.
Supplementing the attack, Bortolotti had 11 kills at a .391 clip. Oldach added nine finishers, and Wyche was a force on the offensive side as well with eight kills on .500 hitting.
Sophia Nagy put down seven kills,
Julie Dufourt had two, and
Noella Migliuri dumped over one.
The offense was managed to a .298 attacking percentage by a trio of setters.
Zofia Sykut had 26 assists, Migliuri set a new career high with 24, and
Mary Kate Bradley stepped in during Set 4 to dole out four helpers.
The Stags added a dozen points from the end line, led by four aces apiece for Sykut and Cook. Carlin landed a pair of winners, with Healey and Wyche each dealing one ace.
Sacred Heart was led by 17 kills and 10 digs from Abbie Hagedorn, and 16 kills for Lauren Hubert. Miliani Villarreal led all players with 24 digs.
Fairfield Volleyball starts a four-match road swing this weekend with trips to Merrimack (Oct. 30) and Quinnipiac (Oct. 31). The Stags will also visit Rider and Saint Peter's on Nov. 6-7 before closing out the regular season and the home slate on Nov. 13-14 at Mahoney Arena against Canisius and Niagara.
