Volleyball Splits on Saturday to Finish Runner-Up at Blue Devil Classic

Box Score (vs. Iona) | Box Score (vs. CCSU)
 
New Britain, Conn. – The Fordham volleyball team reached the final of the Blue Devil Classic with a 3-1 victory over Iona to start its season with two wins for the first time since 2010, but fell to the hosts, Central Connecticut State, in the championship by the same scoreline for its first loss of the campaign. With the split, the Rams are now 2-1.
 
The Rams kept their momentum with a four-set victory over the Gaels, 25-17, 25-15, 20-25, 25-16. Fordham won the battle of the stats, 47-35 kills, 26-22 errors, and a .198 hitting percentage as opposed to Iona's .079. Freshman outside hitter Olivia Fairchild led the way with a match-high 18 kills (.275 hit percentage), including seven in the deciding fourth set, followed by Breanna Jones' 11 kills and Kaitlin Morley's 10, the latter finishing with her first career double-double after teasing one yesterday, adding 12 digs. Freshman libero Morgan Williams' 14 digs led the squad and was second-most in the contest. Sophomore transfer Maddy Walsh again played well, assisting on 38 points and adding 10 digs for her first career double-double.
 
"We focused on coming out and starting off strong, which we did," head coach Gini Ullery remarked after the first contest, "We let the third set get away from us but we did a good job of taking back control in the fourth."
 
The Rams couldn't pull off the clean sweep and allowed the hosts to claim their tournament's crown with a 3-1 result. Fordham had 50 kills to Central Connecticut State's 46 but the Blue Devils blocked 17 shots to the Rams' four as defense was a major factor. The two teams traded 25-19 sets before the Blue Devils pulled away with a close 25-23 third set and 25-21 final fourth set.
 
Fairchild led the way again with 16 kills in 37 total attempts, with Morley (14) and Jones (13) both joining her in double-digits, the trio tallying the highest kill totals in the match. Morley again double-doubled with her 12 digs and also added five aces. Maddy Walsh assisted on all but one point in the contest, notching 46 helpers. Williams' 17 digs paced the squad.
 
"We were up and down on our first contacts all match. When we were in the system we were able to do good things," Ullery added after the second match, "CCSU did a great job of being disciplined on the block but we just kept going after it. It paid off at times and hurt us as well."
 
After the conclusion of the day's matches, two Rams made the All-Blue Devil Classic team: Fairchild and Williams. Fairchild's 4.38 kills/set average through three matches is on a record-setting pace over a single season, as is Williams' 3.69 digs/set mark. Similarly, Walsh's 10.38 assist/set average is in line with top-five marks in program history.
 
"We are young and the team showed its potential. This group is hungry, unsatisfied, and willing to go the extra mile to get things done."
 
The Rams return to Rose Hill for Wednesday evening's home opener against neighboring Manhattan. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on the A-10 Digital Network.