HAMDEN — Since 2012 and before Friday, Quinnipiac and Fairfield faced off 32 times. Twenty-seven of those went to the Stags, five to the Bobcats. All of the Bobcats’ wins came after long, four or five set battles. 

Not on Friday night. 

No, on Friday night the Bobcats welcomed the Stags on their home court — and for the first time in program’s history swept them right off of it 3-0. 

“It’s huge,” head coach Kyle Robinson said. “It’s hard to not get complacent. Some people reach a limit and go ‘No, I’m good.’ That’s just not our group. It’s not me, I set a standard and they rise to the occasion.” 

It was a hard won battle. Fairfield is rightfully the leader of the conference, and has been since it took the crown away from the Bobcats in 2023. It wasn’t just going to let Quinnipiac take the win. 

Fairfield’s height certainly came into play. The Bobcats were oftentimes met with a wall that they just could not get over, as Fairfield recorded three solo blocks and 18 block assists. 

“Some things I don’t worry about when I coach,” Robinson said. “If a girl hits a ball a foot over our athletes, that’s life. We try to make up in other areas. We try to neutralize that by serving well, a huge part of modern day volleyball. We just don’t worry about it.”

But the Bobcats had a fire lit inside them. Maybe it was because of the long standing rivalry with the Stags. Maybe it was because of the rambunctious crowd, supported by Quinnipiac President Marie Hardin in attendance. 

“It’s Burt Khan, it’s our student body,” Robinson said. “I’m grateful for everyone who came out. Because it’s fun and I believe our young women are worth it.”

And maybe it was just the way these girls are. 

“They’re our biggest opponent on paper and this time we killed it,” senior outside hitter Ginevra Giovagnoni said. “I think we all as a collective played very well, we were very into it since minute one till the end and I think that’s what made all the difference. It feels amazing.”

That fire was only further supported by the return of Giovagnoni to the front row. 

“I missed it,” Giovagnoni said. “But at the same time I was a little bit nervous at the beginning of this week. It’s been a while but I think it’s where I belong. It’s where I’m having fun. I’m very grateful to say that I am back on the front row.”

It’s been 415 days since her last kill. 

“It’s not easy coming back from injury, let alone the type she had,” Robinson said. “To stay the course, to fight hard in the training room, on the court, to give back, it takes a really high level or maturity and that’s what I saw today. She’s a true pro athlete who stays focused on the goals and it’s not easy by any means.”

Giovagnoni led the team with 15 kills tonight, just one more than graduate opposite Elena Giacomini. 

“I don’t know if I’m jealous that (Giovagnoni) got the most kills,” Giacomini joked. “I’m just proud. Coming back from an injury is one of the hardest things for an athlete and you come back and you’re the best attacker? What can I say, I knew she was a great player and this just confirmed it for everybody.”

On the back side of the court, senior outside hitter Yagmur Gunes led the team with 12 digs, after just recently breaking the 1K in digs and kills milestone, only the second Bobcat to do that after former outside hitter Aryanah Diaz ‘25.

“To have good players … it’s everything and it makes my job easier,” Robinson said. “When you say both of those athletes’ names together, it’s like of course they are. (Diaz) was the same way, and then you see (Gunes) come along and she’s just as good if not better at some things. I hope to see her in the conversation for player of the year and it’s not so much about the award but it’s the respect she’s worked hard to earn, the respect that comes with the legacy that she’s creating for herself and the volleyball community.” 

Her twin, senior setter Damla Gunes — who recently earned her own milestone by recording the most amount of assists in Quinnipiac’s program history — earned another 36 assists to her name.

This year, senior middle blocker Milena Silva has joined the starting line-up alongside the rest of her class. While she didn’t get to see that much action in the previous seasons, this year she is shaping up as a solid player, earning five kills tonight and two block assists. 

“Last year it was kind of eh, but now she’s calm and you can see it in her play,” Robinson said. “I’m just really proud of her because she’s playing at a much better level than we’ve ever seen. She should be getting the ball more and that’s my frustration, when we pass well, set the middle. I thought she did a good job and I’m just really proud of her.” 

When the team does well overall, it’s very easy to gain the necessary momentum to keep a team like Fairfield in the deficit. 

But by no means was it an easy win. The Stags earned 20, 21 and 22 points in the first, second and third sets, respectively. They still amassed 36 kills to Quinnipiac’s 46. 

Quinnipiac just had that upper hand tonight to make that history. It’s not like it was its first time, if the memory of the 2022 MAAC Championship game serves as an example. 

“Sometimes we get a little bit nervous,” Robinson said. “I just wanna see us sustain that level of belief and confidence, because we are one of the top teams in the conference, we gotta act like it. We are always gonna be humble but we are not second class citizens to anyone.” 

With this win, the Bobcats move to 8-2 in the conference before hosting the Sacred Heart Pioneers tomorrow at 5 p.m. on the Burt Khan court. 

But this win is a beacon for the Bobcats. It is a told tale, just look at the past few seasons. Quinnipiac only ever seems to win against Fairfield on its home turf and then ultimately lose in the championship game. The one time the Bobcats bested the Stags for the MAAC title, they lost the home game 0-3.

It happened in 2023, it happened in 2024. Maybe 2025 is where that curse gets broken. 

“It’s the growth that we’re looking for,” Robinson said. “I play the long game. Not just looking for the immediate win and instant gratification. I’m looking for championships, because that’s what builds legacy.”