MAAC Volleyball Set to Begin Conference Play

9/19/2019 10:00:00 AM

EDISON, N.J. (Sept. 19, 2019) – The conference portion of the 2019 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) volleyball season is set to begin this weekend. Eight of the 10 MAAC teams are scheduled to face conference opponents for the first time this season, with action beginning Friday night in Poughkeepsie.

Marist College takes on Fairfield University at home on Friday to kick off the new season. The Red Foxes, led by senior outside hitter and Preseason All-MAAC selection Nikki DeSerpa, were ranked fifth in the Coaches’ Preseason Poll. The Stags were ranked second heading into the season after falling in the semifinals of the 2018 MAAC Championship to Iona College. Fairfield has captured five of the last seven MAAC titles, and is set to host the MAAC Championship this fall. Following Friday’s match, Marist will remain at home to welcome Quinnipiac University on Sunday, while Fairfield will travel to Loudonville to take on Siena College that same afternoon.

Saturday will feature six teams competing in conference play and two teams facing non-conference opponents. Defending Champion Iona begins the 2019 conference campaign at home, battling Rider University. Both squads feature new head coaches, with Esai Velez-Perez leading the Gaels and Jeff Rotondo leading the Broncs. In non-conference play, Rider has been led by Preseason All-MAAC Libero Rachelle Runyon (two-time Libero of the Week) and freshman Morgan Romano (three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week). Iona will play host to Saint Peter’s and Rider will travel to Manhattan College on Sunday.

Rounding out conference action on Saturday is Saint Peter’s at Manhattan and Quinnipiac at Siena. Preseason favorite Canisius College and cross-town rival Niagara University will begin 2019 conference play on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Niagara. See below for a full schedule of this weekend’s action.

Friday, Sept. 20

Fairfield @ Marist – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21

Canisius @ Buffalo – 12:30 p.m.
Iona @ Rider – 1:00 p.m.
Saint Peter’s @ Manhattan – 1:00 p.m.
Niagara @ Kent State – 1:00 p.m.
Quinnipiac @ Siena – 1:00 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 22

Saint Peter’s @ Iona – 1:00 p.m.
Fairfield @ Siena – 1:00 p.m.
Quinnipiac @ Marist – 1:00 p.m.
Rider @ Manhattan – 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 24

Canisius @ Niagara – 6:00 p.m.
Saint Peter’s @ Lafayette – 7:00 p.m.

Keep up with all MAAC volleyball action by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For championship information, 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 39^th year of competition during the 2019-20 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.