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Post by FU73 on Aug 25, 2023 12:06:05 GMT -5
 Fairfield Stags @fairfieldstags Not one, but 2 @stagsvb matches to open the 2023 campaign‼️ VS Army, Friday August 25 at 11:00 am VS CCSU, Friday, August 25 at 5:00 pm 📍 West Point, N.Y. ⏰ 11 AM / 5 PM 🎥 bit.ly/3YPWpHM (vs. Army) 📊 bit.ly/45Bab3u (all matches) #WeAreStags #StagsCompete #MAACVB 🤘🏐 Though the program has been defined by consistency for the last 25 years, the last nine months for Fairfield University Volleyball are best summarized with one word: "new." A new coach, a new roster, and – after much anticipation – a new home court. At the helm in 2023 will be Nancy Somera, a 30-year coaching veteran who took over the Stags in March and reloaded a roster of seven returners with an additional seven newcomers.. "In some ways, it's easier to have seven new players than only a few. We have been able to build our team culture together rather than bringing just one or two newcomers into an established group," said Somera. "The unique thing is that even with seven newcomers, we're an older, experienced team. We only have two freshmen, and nine of our 14 have played at least two seasons at the college level. They already understand the commitment and the grind of a college volleyball season as well as the academic and social expectations of being a student-athlete.""The success of our offense will come down to ball control," Somera noted. "Two-thirds of last season's point scoring and kill production came from players no longer with the program, which means we're going to have to rely on some different players to step up. But if we are in system, we have a lot of experienced, talented options who can put the ball away.""Defensively, we are starting from a good spot," said Somera. "We have the personnel to be physical up front and keep the ball off the floor. Defense will come down to execution and turning our defense into points, both with our block and a smart transition game.""This weekend is about learning about ourselves – who we are, where we are system-wise, and how we can continue to improve. There's only so much we can learn about ourselves in your own gym," Somera said. "My expectation is only that we play hard, compete well and work to outthink our opponents. If we can consistently do that, then we will give ourselves an opportunity for wins."The long-awaited home debut at the Mahoney Arena is on Saturday, Sept. 2 with a visit from America East UMBC at 2:30 pm. Admission is FREE for all fans to all regular season home matches at Mahoney Arena this season. |
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Post by FU73 on Aug 25, 2023 12:53:30 GMT -5
Stags (1-0) come from behind down 2 sets to win their first match 3-2 (25-20, 17-25, 14-25, 27-25, 15-7) against Army (0-1). "That was long, grueling test for two teams that haven't played a regular season match since November," said Head Coach Nancy Somera. "There was a point in the third set where we were down big and could have mentally checked out and moved on to tonight's match. But I'm proud of the way that we stayed focused and continued to fight for each point. I think once we did that, we put the pressure back on Army and were able to capitalize on that to come all the way back to win. We went 12 players deep, and all 12 played a part in this victory."Box Scorefairfieldstags.com/sports/womens-volleyball/stats/2023/army-west-point/boxscore/13701Stags vs. CCSU at 5:00 pm |
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Post by stags74 on Aug 25, 2023 14:13:53 GMT -5
Nice victory for Coach Somera and the Stags in the Army Invitational tournament. Coach Somera starts the post Kress era with her first “ W” as the Stags H/C. Good for her.
Army was a very difficult team for the Stags to beat(3-2) .Army basically had better stats then FF. Service errors being a significant advantage for FF . Army had 13 service errors to FF 5 service errors giving the stags eight free points. In sets four and five Coach Somera sub Jandro in as the setter. Sitting starting setter Blakely and the stags definitely played more consistently. Jandro was quicker to the ball on “D” and her sets more precise. Blakely last years starting setter appeared to me to be a lot heavier and out of shape. Central Connecticut is stags next opponent. I am hoping the stags can finish 2-1 in the Army tournament with a win vs CCSU and be competitive in a loss to U Cal.
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Post by stag76 on Aug 25, 2023 18:19:46 GMT -5
The Somera era gets off to a 2-0 start.
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Post by paulie74 on Aug 25, 2023 18:43:31 GMT -5
Great 2-0 start for the Somera Era!
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Post by FU73 on Aug 25, 2023 20:10:56 GMT -5
"The serving game really came up big for us. CCSU passed the ball extremely well, so we had to be very accurate from the service line," said Head Coach Nancy Somera. "It's opening weekend, so I'm sure neither team would say that they played their best volleyball, but we hung in there through some passing breakdowns and battled defensively to get the win."Box Scorefairfieldstags.com/boxscore.aspx?path=wvball&id=13702Fairfield (2-0) will vie for a perfect weekend at West Point on Saturday at Noon against Pac-12 foe Cal (1-0).
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Post by stags74 on Aug 25, 2023 22:00:38 GMT -5
U Cal shuts out Army 3-0. Cal easily beats Army in the first two sets, but the cadets give Cal a test in set 3 , 25-22.
The Stags have fulfilled my expectations going 2-0 so far in the Army invitational. If the Stags can take at least one set vs U Cal expectations for the first weekend of the VB season will be exceeded IMO. East coast VB teams rarely can be competitive vs west coast teams.
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Post by paulie74 on Aug 26, 2023 6:45:40 GMT -5
U Cal shuts out Army 3-0. Cal easily beats Army in the first two sets, but the cadets give Cal a test in set 3 , 25-22. The Stags have fulfilled my expectations going 2-0 so far in the Army invitational. If the Stags can take at least one set vs U Cal expectations for the first weekend of the VB season will be exceeded IMO. East coast VB teams rarely can be competitive vs west coast teams. One set would be a win. Cal is loaded with 12 players 6'+ and 4 of them at 6'3" and one at 6'4. Tough wall to overcome. I look back at the competitive sets with UCLA in the NCAA. A few errors in your favor and you might take one. If we can play consistently this season, I like our chances in the MAAC from what we've seen so far. Unfortunately we're spoiled. Many matches were on cruise control with 3-0 wins. |
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Post by paulie74 on Aug 26, 2023 12:41:48 GMT -5
Stags take a set from Cal 25-20
Match at 2-1 going into the 4th set!!
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Post by FU73 on Aug 26, 2023 13:11:44 GMT -5
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Post by stags74 on Aug 26, 2023 13:48:56 GMT -5
Just excellent results for the first weekend of VB. Cal did not blow out the stags and in fact the stags took one set from UCAL , losing the match 3-1.
Upcoming next is SHU who is no slouch. A cab ride across town for a tough matchup for Stags because SHU is picked #1 in the NEC coaches poll.
2023 NEC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Sacred Heart (5)
2. LIU (2)
3. FDU
4. Saint Francis U (1)
5. CCSU
6. Stonehill
7. Merrimack
8. Le Moyne
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