JERSEY CITY, NJ -- Despite a strong first set, the Saint Peter's women's volleyball team fell to the MAAC-leading Fairfield Stags, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon in Run Baby Run Arena.
The Peacocks nearly became the first conference foe to take a set off the Stags this season, clawing back from a six-point deficit to tie it late in the frame. Fairfield would recover from the momentum swing and take that first set, as well as the next two, in its second win over Saint Peter's this season.
Graduate setter Wildalys Soto had her fourth double-double of the season (24 assists, 10 digs), while the outside hitting duo of freshman Lily Barnhill and senior Alanis Alvarado led the Peacocks' attack with eight kills each.
The Basics
Score: Fairfield 3, Saint Peter's 0
Records: Saint Peter's (1-16, 0-6 MAAC), Fairfield (11-6, 6-0 MAAC)
Location: Run Baby Run Arena | Jersey City, NJ
Set Summaries
- Saint Peter's hung tough early in the first set, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and holding a 7-7 tie thanks to a pair of kills from Barnhill. The Stags found their groove midway through that first set, opening up a 14-9 lead off a 7-2 run and leading by as many as six points late as they closed in on the opener.
- The Peacocks refused to go away, trimming that 21-15 lead to just one thanks to an impressive service run from freshman middle blocker Suzzanne Bigelow. Saint Peter's finally leveled the match, 22-22, off senior opposite Angeleyshka Curbelo's third kill of the first set.
- At 23-23, Fairfield came through with a major block to set up set point, when the Stags nailed a service ace to secure the opener, 25-23.
- Despite a slow start to the second set when they once again fell behind by as many as six, the Peacocks charged midway through that second frame -- trailing just 22-20 thanks to a pair of service runs from Bigelow and Curbelo and a four-kill set from Barnhill.
- Fairfield had a strong finish to the second set, closing on a 3-0 run that included a pair of service aces to take it, 25-20, and secure its two-set lead.
- The Stags powered through the third set, using a 6-0 run early in the frame to open its lead and siding out consistently down the stretch to earn the 25-18 victory.
Highlights
- Soto's double-double on Saturday brings her career total to 21 double-doubles.
- Prior to last Sunday's match against Siena, the rookie Barnhill had a season-high of four kills. She followed up that 11-kill career best against the Saints with another solid showing of eight kills against the Stags.
- The captain Curbelo led all Peacock scorers with 8.5 points, tallying seven kills, an ace, and a block assist.
- Sophomore libero Alwen Pila matched the career-high three aces she served last match to bring her team-leading season total to 13 service aces. She also had 15 digs, which is her high of the conference slate.
Up Next
The Peacocks are back in action tomorrow (Oct. 10), welcoming Quinnipiac (4-13, 3-5 MAAC) to Run Baby Run Arena. First serve is at 1 p.m. and the game will air live on the Peacock Digital Network.
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