EDISON, NJ (Sept. 5, 2022) – Fairfield swept New Hampshire and Lafayette and defeated host Villanova in five sets to win the Villanova Classic this weekend. MAAC Preseason Player of the Year KJ Johnson averaged 3.73 kills per set on .309 hitting and added 1.55 digs per stanza and chipped in six blocks and an ace in her 11 sets of work to round out 4.09 points per game en route to tournament MVP honors.
Friday, September 2
Fairfield (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | New Hampshire (4-1, 0-0 America East) – 0
Villanova Classic | Jake Nevin Field House | VILLANOVA, PA
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A red-hot first set, a rally in the second set, and one long run in the third set told the story as Fairfield swept New Hampshire, 3-0, to open play at the Villanova Classic. The Stags, who took the match by set scores of 25-14, 25-23 and 25-18, got 11 kills from KJ Johnson and an eight-kill, four-block outing from Ella Gardiner in the victory. The Stags hit .250 for the match, including a .333 clip in the first set as Fairfield led by as many as 12 points before capping the 11-point victory with the 25-14 win. Johnson hit .290 from the outside with 11 kills, and Mikayla Haut added seven finishers at the pins. The middle-hitting tandem of Gardiner and Sara Daniels combined for 11 kills on 20 swings at a .450 hitting percentage. The offense was managed by Blakely Montgomery, who handed out 22 assists and dumped over four kills of her own. Montgomery also helped lead the defensive effort with nine digs, while Johnson added seven.
Iona (4-0, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | Akron (0-4, 0-0 Mid-American) – 2
Seton Hall Invitational | Walsh Gymnasium | SOUTH ORANGE, NJ
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Iona earned its fourth consecutive victory to start the season, defeating Akron in five sets (25-20, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18,15-11) in game one of the Seton Hall Tournament. Trailing two sets to one, the Gaels rallied led by double-doubles from Jen Soto and Samantha Juran. Greta Stjade, Fleur Wiersma and Soto each reached double figures in kills with 15, 13 and 10 while Morgan Madasz added a season-high eight. Juran added a match-best and new season-high 26 assists while Tamara Pichardo chipped in a new season-best as well with 25. On defense, Hope Matschner finished with a match-high 26 digs while Juran and Soto both reached double figures in digs with 12 and 10. Iona's 4-0 start continues the team's best start to a season this century.
Quinnipiac (1-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | Hartford (0-5, 0-0 America East) – 1
Delaware State Invitational | Memorial Hall | DOVER, DE
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Behind a game-high 16 kills from sophomore Alexandra Tennon, the Quinnipiac volleyball team earned its first win of the 2022 campaign in a 3-1 victory over Hartford (25-9, 25-6, 22-25, 25-16) as part of the Delaware State Invitational. Ginevra Giovagnoni contributed 14 kills and six digs, Chloe Ka'Ahanui added 39 assists and 16 digs for a double-double and Faavae Kimsel Moe tallied a career-high six service aces. Nicole Legg added five blocks. In the fourth and final set, the two sides battled to a 7-7 tie before Quinnipiac pulled ahead 11-7 behind two blocks from Legg and Ka'Ahanui. After pushing ahead 15-8, the Bobcats found themselves in the driver's seat, coasting to a 25-16 set win and match victory.
Match 1: Niagara (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | Penn (0-1, 0-0 Ivy) – 1
Rose Hill Classic | Rose Hill Gym | NEW YORK, NY
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Niagara picked up a four-set win over Penn (15-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22) on the first day of the Rose Hill Classic. The two teams traded points for most of the fourth set and found themselves deadlocked at 14-14. With the score then 20-18 in favor of NU, Penn took four of the following five points for a 22-21 lead. The Purple and White would rally for four-straight points to secure the win. Niagara totaled 13 block assists compared to one for the Quakers and posted a .233 hitting percentage, 57 kills, 53 assists, and three service aces. Lexi Bapst posted a career-best 17 kills on a total of 51 attacks while Kinga Wronska was second on the squad with 14 kills. Casey Brown led NU with a career-high 44 assists, doubling her previous best of 22 set against Texas Southern in 2021. Friday's match marked the first-ever meeting between Niagara and Penn.
Match 2: Niagara (2-3, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Fordham (4-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10) – 3
Rose Hill Classic | Rose Hill Gym | NEW YORK, NY
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Niagara got swept by host Fordham (19-25, 14-25, 22-25) in Game Two of the Rose Hill Classic. Bapst once again led NU with nine kills, followed by Jenna Vogen with seven. Liana Tolliver posted six kills while appearing in all three sets for the first time in her career. Casey Brown posted her third match of the season with 20-plus assists and has 101 on the season. Brown was also one dig shy of a double-double, tying Bapst with a team-best nine digs.
Saint Peter’s (0-5, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Columbia (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) – 3
CCSU Tournament | Detrick Gymnasium | NEW BRITAIN, CT
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Saint Peter's opened the CCSU Invitational with a loss against Columbia, dropping three straight sets (17-25, 22-25, 9-25). Mackenzie Tucker had team-highs with five kills and two aces, Morgan Thurlow matched Tucker with five kills, and Elena Bilhartz recorded a team-high three total blocks. Lillian Konrad had 15 assists while Laken Dillon had a team-high seven digs, along with an ace.
Match 1: Rider (0-4, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Buffalo (3-1, 0-0 Mid-American) – 3
Steel Classic Tournament | Grace Hall | BETHLEHEM, PA
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Rider opened day one of competition at the Steel City Classic with a loss to Buffalo (18-25, 17-25, 15-25). The Broncs hit .059 in the match, trailing the Bulls' .393. Jenna Amaro led Rider with six kills while Morgan Romano added five and Tori Schrader and Carly McAleavey each had four. Romano also led Rider with eight digs in the opening match while Julia Slivka had 11 assists and Sydney Bond chipped in nine.
Match 2: Rider (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | Cleveland State (1-4, 0-0 Horizon) – 1
Steel Classic Tournament | Grace Hall | BETHLEHEM, PA
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The Broncs bounced back against Cleveland State, winning their first match of the season (25-23, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18). The fourth and final set featured 11 ties. The final tie came at 18-18, when Rider rattled off seven-straight points, with three more kills off the arm of Amaro to close out the victory. For the match, the Broncs out-hit the Vikings .143 to .130. Rider's offense was led by Amaro, finishing with 13 kills. Romano finished with 11 kills while Schrader, McAleavey, and Brynn Johnson each recorded nine kills. In addition to Slivka's 29 assists against the Vikings, Bond had 17. Pamela Loh had 16 digs.
Match 1: Canisius (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 1 | Duquesne (1-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10) – 3
Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational | UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse | PITTSBURGH, PA
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The Canisius Volleyball team lost both of its matches during day one of the Robert Morris/Duquesne Invitational on Friday, falling to Duquesne and Robert Morris in a pair of 3-1 setbacks. Against Duquesne, the Golden Griffins took a 1-0 lead with a late comeback in the first set; the Griffs' 28 points in that first set were their most in a single set since they defeated Iona, 28-26, in the fourth set of their match on Sept. 28, 2019. However, the Dukes rallied to sweep the next three sets to clinch the victory (26-28, 25-17, 25-25, 26-24). Taylor Baldwin led Canisius with 16 kills while Ella Bourque totaled 40 assists. As a team, the Griffs posted a .110 hitting percentage (46-28-163).
Match 2: Canisius (2-3, 0-0 MAAC) – 1 | Robert Morris (2-3, 0-0 Horizon) – 3
Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational | UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse | PITTSBURGH, PA
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In the nightcap against Robert Morris, Canisius once again claimed the opening frame only to see the Colonials control the next three sets to earn the win (23-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-16). Canisius got started on the right foot against Robert Morris, opening up an early 9-4 lead before the Colonials tied the match at 13-all with a nine-point rally. After going back and forth, the Blue & Gold stormed ahead in part due to three kills from Baldwin for the 25-23 victory. For the match, Ella Loussia led the Griffs in kills with 13 while Bourque totaled 30 assists. As a team, Canisius hit at a season low .042 clip (35-29-142).
Match 1: Marist (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 1 | Old Dominion (1-3, 0-0 Sunbelt) – 3
Hokie Invitational | Cassell Coliseum | BLACKSBURG, VA
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The Marist volleyball team dropped its opening match of the Hokie Invitational against Old Dominion (25-23, 15-25, 13-25, 17-25) on Friday. Tied 23-23 in the first set, Marist earned its 24th point off an attack error by Old Dominion’s Myah Conway, with the block by Gabrielle Heller, before Sasha van der Merwe tallied the set-winning kill. For the match, van der Merwe tallied 12 kills and two service aces, leading the team. Jordan Newblatt and Gabrielle Heller recorded eight kills each while McKinley Fox led the team with 29 assists.
Match 2: Marist (2-3, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Virginia Tech (3-2, 0-0 ACC) – 3
Hokie Invitational | Cassell Coliseum | BLACKSBURG, VA
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Marist fell to Virginia Tech (11-25, 22-25, 19-25) in the nightcap. Heller led the team with eight kills and three aces while Fox collected a total of 20 assists. In the second set, Marist held a 20-12 lead, but Virginia Tech battled back to tie it up, 20-20. The Hokies would then go on a 5-2 run to take the second-set win.
Siena (0-4, 0-0 MAAC) – 2 | Air Force (4-0, 0-0 Mountain West) – 3
Brown Quad Meet | Pizzitola Sports Center | PROVIDENCE, RI
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After holding a 2-1 lead in the match after three sets, the Siena Saints came close to finishing the deal as they fell to the Air Force Falcons by a final score of 3-2 (25-16, 24-26, 23-25, 25-21, 15-9) in a neutral site match held at Brown University. Hailey Hinkel showed out for the Saints, collecting a double-double with team-highs of 12 kills and 26 digs. Backing up Hinkel's performance for the Saints was a pair of 10 kill efforts from Olga Sawinska and Emily Wunder, with Sara Wagner falling just short of a double-double with 12 digs and eight kills. Gracie Halley also scooped 20 digs, with Claire Isaksen also scoring a double-double with 14 assists and 10 digs.
Saturday, September 3
Fairfield (3-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | Lafayette (1-2, 0-0 Patriot) – 0
Villanova Classic | Jake Nevin Field House | VILLANOVA, PA
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Led by a season-best .356 hitting percentage, Fairfield picked up its second consecutive 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-22, 25-16) with a straight-set triumph over Lafayette on Saturday evening at the Villanova Classic. KJ Johnson headed that effort with 15 kills on the outside swinging at a scorching .433 clip. Johnson committed just two of those errors on her 30 swings to rack up 15 kills. The reigning MAAC Player of the Year also picked up three digs and had a hand in three of Fairfield's seven team blocks. The attack was run by Blakely Montgomery to the tune of 28 assists with one kill of her own while Ella Gardiner notched four blocks and Noelle Carey compiled 11 digs.
Marist (3-3, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | Coppin State (2-5, 0-0 MEAC) – 1
Hokie Invitational | Cassell Coliseum | BLACKSBURG, VA
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Marist completed the Hokie Invitational with a victory over the Coppin State Eagles by a score of 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-17, 25-18). Gabrielle Heller, who finished with 18 kills and a .500+ hitting efficiency was named to the All-Tournament Team. Jordan Newblatt recorded 12 kills and two aces while Sasha van der Merwe collected 10 kills. The Red Foxes had a total of 16 blocks.
Match 1: Iona (5-0, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | George Mason (1-4, 0-0 Atlantic 10) – 1
Seton Hall Invitational | Walsh Gymnasium | SOUTH ORANGE, NJ
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Iona earned a split on the final day of the Seton Hall Tournament, first earning a four-set victory over George Mason (25-18, 18-25, 25-9, 25-19). For the second straight weekend, Jen Soto took home All-Tournament honors after posting 24 kills and nine blocks. Fleur Wiersma and Soto continue to be a dominant presence at the net, combining for 13 blocks in the victory. Greta Stjade led the Gaels with 13 kills while Tamara Pichardo tied a career-high with five service aces.
Match 2: Iona (5-1, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Seton Hall (5-1, 0-0 Big East) – 3
Seton Hall Invitational | Walsh Gymnasium | SOUTH ORANGE, NJ
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The Gaels then suffered their first loss of the 2022 season to Seton Hall (23-25, 23-25, 22-25). Wiersma and Stjade combined for 15 kills, finishing with eight and seven, while Hope Matschner poured in a match-high 21 digs.
Canisius (2-4, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | William and Mary (3-3, 0-0 CAA) – 3
Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational | UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse | PITTSBURGH, PA
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William and Mary held off late rallies from Canisius in the second and third sets to earn the win in the second day of the Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational. The Tribe took the match by the scores of 25-23, 25-19, and 25-21. Senior Ella Loussia led the Griffs with 12 kills while Ella Bourque chipped in a match high 31 assists. As a team, Canisius had a .167 hitting percentage (37-19-108), their highest of the weekend.
Niagara (2-4, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Fairleigh Dickinson (2-3, 0-0 NEC) – 3
Rose Hill Classic | Rose Hill Gym | NEW YORK, NY
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The Purple Eagles were swept by Farleigh Dickinson early Saturday afternoon by scores of 25-20, 27-25, and 25-8. Kinga Wronska and Liana Tolliver paced NU with five and four kills, respectively. Wronska also posted a team-high 12 digs. Casey Brown dished out 16 assists while also tallying seven digs, two kills, and a service ace. Bella Peroni was second on the squad with 11 digs. Laryssa Imbuzeiro and Liana Tolliver each recorded two service aces, while Imbuzeiro led NU with three block assists.
Quinnipiac (0-3, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Delaware State (3-2, 0-0 MEAC) – 3
Delaware State Invitational | Memorial Hall | DOVER, DE
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Despite a team-best seven kills from Ginevra Giovagnoni, the Quinnipiac volleyball team fell short on the road against Delaware State in three sets (14-25, 18-25, 20-25) on Saturday afternoon inside of Memorial Hall. Damla Gunes added a team-high 18 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.
Rider (1-5, 0-0 MAAC) – 2 | Lehigh (5-1, 0-0 Patriot) – 3
Steel Classic Tournament | Grace Hall | BETHLEHEM, PA
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The Rider University volleyball team won the opening two sets Saturday afternoon, but ultimately fell to Lehigh in five sets (25-20, 25-21, 10-25, 17-25, 12-15). Julia Slivka had her second-straight double-double with 23 assists and 12 digs. Morgan Romano led Rider with 13 kills while Christina Blount added eight and Carley McAleavey had seven. The Broncs hit .044 in the match, to Lehigh's .177.
Match 1: Manhattan (0-1, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Hampton (2-0, 0-0 CAA) – 3
Henson Hawk Invitational | Hytche Athletic Center | PRINCESS ANNE, MD
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Manhattan was defeated by Hampton, 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-11) in its first match on Saturday. Julia Menocal finished the match with a total of 11 kills, outperforming Hampton's Clara Smith, who led the Pirates with 10 kills. Sarah Emmons had 13 assists.
Match 2: Manhattan (0-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Maryland Eastern Shore (2-3, 0-0 MEAC) – 3
Henson Hawk Invitational | Hytche Athletic Center | PRINCESS ANNE, MD
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In the second afternoon session against UMES (12-25, 11-25, 19-25), Mencal led the game in kills with a total of nine, outscoring UMES's leader, Derionah Abner. Bella Nascimento had a solid defensive performance, recording seven digs for the Jaspers.
Match 1: Saint Peter’s (0-6, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | CCSU (2-3, 0-0 NEC) – 3
CCSU Tournament | Detrick Gymnasium | NEW BRITAIN, CT
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Saint Peter's women's volleyball fell to Central Connecticut State in three straight sets (15-25, 16-25, 14-25). Sydney Kuzma led the attack, tallying eight kills. Mackenzie Tucker had seven kills and an ace against the Blue Devils while Elena Bilhartz had two blocks. Lillian Konrad recorded 14 assists.
Match 2: Saint Peter’s (0-7, 0-0 MAAC) – 0 | Binghamton (5-1, 0-0 America East) – 3
CCSU Tournament | Detrick Gymnasium | NEW BRITAIN, CT
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Saint Peter's women's volleyball fell to Binghamton in three straight sets (13-25, 12-25, 13-25). Kuzma led the attack, tallying six kills. Morgan Thurlow recorded a team-best three aces against the Bearcats while Bilhartz had a team-best two total blocks. Konrad recorded 10 assists.
Match 1: Siena (0-5, 0-0 MAAC) – 1 | Rhode Island (1-4, 0-0 Atlantic 10) – 3
Brown Quad Meet | Pizzitola Sports Center | PROVIDENCE, RI
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After taking the first set of their day in commanding fashion, the Siena Saints cooled and fell in both matches on the day. Siena dropped their opening match to Rhode Island by a final of 3-1 (12-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17). The Saints were led by an 11-kill performance from graduate student Emily Wunder, which was backed up with a double-double effort from Meghan Johnsson with 21 assists and 10 digs.
Match 2: Siena (0-6, 0-0 MAAC) – 1 | Brown (2-1, 0-0 Ivy) – 3
Brown Quad Meet | Pizzitola Sports Center | PROVIDENCE, RI
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Siena finished off their weekend with a 3-1 loss (25-13, 25-14, 19-25, 25-20) to Brown. Gracie Halley tallied 15 digs, while Meghan Johnsson and Claire Isaksen each tossed up 16 assists. The Saints struggled through the first two sets as Brown took advantage of a high attack percentage to lead 2-0 heading into the intermission. Siena struck back with a set win in set three, as Sara Wagner stepped up and went on a run. The Saints competed in the fourth and looked to force a fifth set, but Brown closed the door with a 25-20 win. Halley tallied 15 digs, while Johnsson and Claire Isaksen each tossed up 16 assists. In Siena's third set win, the Green and Gold hit a solid .333, and had a match-high 12 kills.
Sunday, September 4
Fairfield (4-2, 0-0 MAAC) – 3 | Villanova (3-3, 0-0 Big East) – 2
Villanova Classic | Jake Nevin Field House | VILLANOVA, PA
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KJ Johnson put down 15 kills to lock up MVP honors as Fairfield defeated host Villanova in five sets (18-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 15-9) to win the Villanova Classic. Johnson was joined on the All-Tournament Team by middle blockers Sara Daniels and Ella Gardiner. The win was the first for the Stags over Villanova since 1999. In the deciding stanza, the Stags continued to rely on their All-America outside hitter as Johnson went 4-of-8 (.500) to power the attack in the final set. Johnson had two kills and teamed up with Daniels for a block in the early goings as Fairfield turned a 3-0 deficit into a 6-3 lead. An ace from Abby Jandro grew the margin to 12-6 and the ninth and final kill for Elliott put away a 15-9 lead and a 3-2 victory for the Stags.
Johnson's 15 kills came on 49 swings from the pins with only three errors, and the reigning MAAC Player of the Year also notched seven digs. Daniels added 11 kills on .500 hitting in the middle and got a piece of four of the Stags' six team blocks. Mikayla Haut and Allie Elliott added nine kills apiece on the outside, while Gardiner rounded out her All-Tournament Team weekend with seven kills on .316 hitting. Sabria Cooper added two kills on the right side and Blakely Montgomery dumped over two from the setter position. Defensively, Montgomery led the way with 12 digs to record a double-double.
The 2022 MAAC Volleyball Championship takes place from November 16 through 19 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The 10-team, single-elimination championship will feature four rounds of action with the opening round taking place on Wednesday, November 16, followed by the quarterfinals on Thursday, November 17, the semifinals on Friday, November 18, and concluding with the championship match on Saturday, November 19. For all information regarding the 2022 MAAC Volleyball Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/vb.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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