Fairfield University Volleyball won the 2021 MAAC Championship — their conference-record 12th tournament crown — on Nov. 21, with a 3-0 sweep of second-seeded Rider. The Stags now advance to the NCAA Championship, where they will challenge #14 UCLA on Friday, Dec. 3 at 10 p.m. (ET) at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

The 2021 MAAC Championship is the 12th in program history and the fifth in the last seven seasons for the Stags. Head Coach Todd Kress, who was named the MAAC Coach of the Year for a record eighth time in 2021, has been at the helm for seven MAAC Championships.

KJ Johnson ’23 was named the MAAC Championship MVP after averaging 4.33 kills and 2.83 digs per set in the Stags' three-match run. Also the 2021 MAAC Player of the Year, Johnson led the conference and ranks ninth nationally this season with 4.82 kills per set.

Johnson was joined on the All-Championship Team by Manuela Nicolini ’20 and Laura Seeger ’22. Seeger was inserted into the lineup on the right side for Sunday's championship match and responded with 12 kills on .500 hitting. She was also a part of three blocks. Nicolini — the four-time MAAC Setter of the Year — dished out 36 assists and ran the attack to a season-high .404 hitting percentage. She also capped her 12th double-double with 10 digs and dumped over three kills of her own.

Tonight's match at UCLA will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The other side of the bracket features Pepperdine challenging UCF, also on Friday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

The winners will reconvene at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 10 p.m. (ET) in the NCAA Championship Second Round.