Fairfield University Athletics

2021 (Fall): MAAC All-Academic Team…Appeared in 30 matches totaling 97 sets…Recorded 1.43 kills per set on .281 hitting…Led the team with 111 blocks and 1.14 blocks per set…Also dished three assists and recorded 19 digs…Had three outings with double-digit kills, notching 10 in a four-set win at Quinnipiac, 11 in a five-setter at Iona and 12 on .476 hitting in the MAAC Quarterfinal win at Siena…Had seven kills on 12 errorless swings to go along with eight blocks in the MAAC Championship Match…Posted three kills on six swings with no errors (.500) and recorded eight blocks in the NCAA Championship First Round at UCLA…Her eight blocks against the Bruins are the most ever by a Stag in an NCAA postseason match…Recorded three or more blocks in 17 matches.

2021 (Spring): MAAC Rookie of the Week (March 23)…Appeared in the middle in nine matches, totaling 27 sets of action…Averaged 1.37 kills per set on .232 hitting…Got a piece of 30 blocks (1.11/set)…Had a season-best seven kills on 13 errorless swings (.538) in a sweep of Siena on March 21…Had eight blocks in a five-set win at Quinnipiac on March 28.

Before Fairfield: Originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, Ella Gardiner played high school volleyball and basketball at San Clemente (Calif.) High School, where she was named the Orange County Register Outstanding Female Competitor. The middle blocker was a two-time All-League performer in volleyball as well as a league MVP and First Team All-County as a basketball player. She was the San Clemente Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior and received the Princeton Club of Orange County Award for Leadership.