Volleyball Falls to VCU on Friday Afternoon

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Bronx, N.Y. – In front of a packed house at Rose Hill Gymnasium, a Fordham volleyball program record of 1,776 during the team's annual Field Trip Day featuring local school children, friends, and family, the Rams fell to visiting VCU, the Atlantic 10 leaders, in straight sets. VCU improves to 22-2 overall and 8-0 in league action, while Fordham falls to 11-11 and 3-6, respectively.
 
"We would like to thank all the local schools for their support today as we competed against a very strong VCU team," Head coach Gini Ullery-Shrift said, "To be able to play in front of nearly 1,800 fans is a great experience for our athletes and the game of volleyball."
 
The Rams battled their counterparts tough in all three sets, falling, 25-21, in both the first and second sets, before VCU grinded out a 28-26 third set victory to seal the match. Both teams hit over .300, with Fordham at .309 and VCU at .352. VCU tallied kill numbers of 17, 14, and 19 in the three frames to Fordham's 13, 14, and 16, respectively. It's the fifth-highest percentage for Fordham this year and first above .300 since .443 against St. Francis Brooklyn at Columbia on September 16. The team's 43 kills are also tied for second-most this campaign.
 
Both Olivia Fairchild and McKenna led the way for Fordham with 10 kills apiece, while the former double-doubled with a team-high 10 digs, as well, compared to Lahr's seven. Kaitlin Morley was next with eight kills and a team-high two aces, coming on back-to-back points in the opening set, while Olivia LaPorta tallied seven kills on just nine attacks (.667). Elise Benjamin chipped in five kills and a team-high two blocks.
 
Fairchild notched one ace to move into sole possession of 10^th with 110 career aces. She is two away from passing Tasha Johnston and Marija Markovic for eighth all-time.
 
Fordham host Davidson on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. It is the program's annual Breast Cancer Awareness match and fans are encouraged to show their support by wearing pink. Fans will also have time before the match and during the first set for last-minute entries into raffles and silent auctions for terrific prizes. There is also still time to help the program reach their goal of $2,000 in support of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Research. To donate, click here.