Rams Drop Two at CCSU

Making their final appearance in a regular season tournament, the Fordham Rams dropped a pair of games at the CCSU Invitational on Saturday.  The Rams fell to Hartford in straight sets in the morning before losing to CCSU in five sets in the evening.  Fordham falls to 7-8 with the two losses.
 
Game One
 
The Rams struggled in Saturday's opening game, dropping a straight-set decision to Hartford.
 
Lisa Hipp led the Rams with eight kills, while Brennan Delsing chipped in seven.
 
The Rams fell behind early in set one, dropping eight of the match's first 11 points.  Hartford went on to win the set 25-17.
 
Sets two and three fared no better for the Rams, as they dropped those 25-15 and 25-14, respectively.
 
Game Two
 
After falling in straight sets to Hartford, the Rams put up a valiant effort in the day's second match, falling in five sets to CCSU.

Maria Rodenberg set the school record for digs in a match, tallying 38.  The previous mark was 33, set Christine Barkley in 1992, and Rodenberg's previous personal best was 25.
 
Fordham jumped out to an early lead in the opening set against the Blue Devils, grabbing a 5-1 lead on a Krista Whitewood kill.  Down 9-7, CCSU uncorked a huge run, scoring ten in a row to move ahead 17-9.  The Blue Devils went on to win the set by a score of 25-19.
 
In the second set, it was Fordham that came behind from an early deficit, taking the lead at 13-12 and never giving it back.  Brianna O'Neil rattled off three straight kills to end the set with Fordham on top 25-19.
 
CCSU took a huge lead midway through the third set, moving ahead of Fordham by seven at 15-8.  The Rams responded in a timely fashion; however, tallying the set's next seven points to even up the score.  The two squads traded blow the rest of the way, but the Blue Devils came out on top 25-23.
 
Fordham answered back in the fourth, taking an early lead at 8-4.  The Rams never allowed CCSU to get back in the set, maintaining their advantage by at least three the rest of the way and forcing a decisive fifth set with a 25-20 win.
 
The two teams traded points in the fifth set, but CCSU eventually came out on top following a controversial ending.  With CCSU ahead 15-14, a Blue Devil attack appeared to go long, but the official ruled that the ball had touched a Fordham player, giving CCSU the set at 16-14.
 
The Rams will be back in action on Friday night, opening the Atlantic 10 season at home against Rhode Island.