Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Phil Akre
Quinnipiac women’s volleyball lost its second straight match on Saturday afternoon, as the Fairfield Stags, who are undefeated in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, swept the Bobcats 3-0. In a highly anticipated matchup between the MAAC’s top two teams, this match didn’t disappoint.
Senior Allison Leigh felt that her team was just one step behind the Stags the entire game.
“We would just make one more error than they would. We couldn’t come back from that, so I think it’s the smallest details. It’s about starting off strong in the beginning.”
Quinnipiac had been used to rolling over the majority of its opponents leading up to the match against Fairfield, but the first set showed it was going to be quite the opposite.
It was a back and forth battle, as both teams boasted confidence and intensity. Leigh and sophomore Jen Coffey led the way for the Bobcats in the first, as they combined for seven points. Despite the solid offensive production, the Stags took the first set by a score of 25-22.
The second set was nearly identical to the first, with intense back and forth action. Freshman Natalie Alechko, making her return from a leg injury, played confidently, and was aided by Coffey as she exploded for eight points and two blocks. Fairfield ultimately took the second set by another close score of 25-23.
If there was one positive to take away from the loss, it was that Natalie Alechko didn’t miss a beat in her return to the court. She played calm, collected, and smart. Head coach Kris Czaplinksi shared that it was good to have her back.
“She’s a very good player, so she’s big for our team.”
After two sets that saw both teams fight, the Stags pulled away in the third, as they led 18-11 at one point. The Bobcats looked tired and overmatched on both sides of the ball, which lead to a 25-15 set loss, and 3-0 match loss.
It was a tough loss for Quinnipiac, as it looked to cement its status as a true MAAC powerhouse. However, Leigh thinks her team will use the loss as motivation.
“This game was kind of a wakeup call,” Leigh said. “I think practices are going to be a lot tougher now. We know that they’re the best in the conference, who we need to beat. This loss is going to make every other game more important.”
The team resumes play on Saturday, October 15 at 1 p.m. when they take on the Marist Red Foxes at the Burt Kahn Court in Hamden.
