Fairfield, CT – The Saint Peter's volleyball team fought hard but ultimately fell in straight sets (25-16, 25-18, 25-16) to the Fairfield Stags on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set 1:
The Stags opened the match with a 3-0 lead, capitalizing on a Saint Peter's attack error and back-to-back service aces. Sophomore Karolina Rodriguez put the Peacocks on the board with her first kill of the match, cutting the deficit to 3-1. However, Fairfield extended their lead to 12-8 behind consecutive blocks and kills. Saint Peter's kept fighting, with Rodriguez adding two more kills to close the gap to 19-15, but Fairfield surged ahead, claiming the next four points and securing the set with back-to-back kills, 25-16.
Set 2:
Fairfield opened the second set with two consecutive kills, but the Peacocks answered quickly with a kill from sophomore Maliyah Labrie. Saint Peter's tied the set at 6-6, thanks to a Fairfield error and another kill from Rodriguez. The Stags responded with a 6-point run that widened the lead to 19-10. Saint Peter's made a late push with kills from Rodriguez, freshman Valeria Pagan Munoz, and senior Penelope Rivera, but Fairfield closed out the set 25-18 following a Peacock service error and a final kill.
Set 3:
Saint Peter's started the third set by capitalizing on a Fairfield service error, bringing the score to 2-1. Despite a valiant effort, including a kill from senior Elena Bilhartz, the Peacocks couldn't overcome Fairfield's momentum. The Stags used multiple runs to open up a 17-9 lead. Saint Peter's managed to fend off match point briefly but ultimately fell to a double block by Fairfield, who finished the set 25-16 and completed the sweep.
Inside the Numbers:
- Rivera led the Peacocks with 11 kills.
- Rodriguez tallied seven kills, hitting .269 for the match.
- Cleopatra Diakou contributed 17 assists.
Up Next:
The Saint Peter's Peacocks will remain in Fairfield, Connecticut, to take on Sacred Heart University on Sunday, October 20. First serve is set for 1 PM.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
