RICHMOND, Va. -- The Fordham women's volleyball team fought back from a 2-0 deficit, before losing in five sets to VCU in Atlantic 10 play Saturday inside the Siegel Center. With the loss, the Rams fall to 8-22 (2-11 A-10) on the season, while VCU improves to 14-15 (8-5 A-10) overall.
Fordham did not play well over the first two sets, as the Rams fell by scores of 25-7 and 25-16. However, the light turned on in the third set, where Fordham escaped with a 28-26 victory. The Rams then forced a fifth and deciding set when they took the fourth, 25-19. But the home team was able to escape with the win, after defeating Fordham, 15-11, in the fifth set.
Freshman
Breanna Jones led the offense with 12 kills, while fellow classmate
Natalie Martinez added 11 kills and a match-best four service aces. Sophomore
Emily Fronk dished out 35 assists for the Rams and added seven digs. Defensively, senior
Brennan Delsing recorded a team-high 10 digs, freshman
Olivia LaPorta recorded a team-best six total blocks to go along with seven kills, and Martinez chipped in five total blocks.
As mentioned before, VCU dominated the first two sets, but Fordham bounced back in the third. Trailing 9-7, the Rams rattled off five straight, with the last four coming from all four of Martinez's service aces. The string of points started an 11-3 run, which put Fordham ahead, 18-12. The Rams then were able to stretch their advantage out to 22-15.
But VCU made a move. Five straight and six of seven brought the home team to within two at 23-21, before a kill from junior
Kristen Ostach gave Fordham set point. However, VCU answered with four in a row and had set point of its own at 25-24.
A kill and a block from Jones moved the Rams back in front by one, 26-25, and VCU fought off set point once again to deadlock the set at 26-26. Fordham then tallied the final two points on a VCU attack error and another kill from Jones to take the set, 28-26, and slice the deficit in half, 2-1.
The Rams led wire-to-wire in the fourth set but had to hold off VCU rallies. Fordham jumped out to an 8-2 lead after scoring the first six points of the set. After the home team cut the lead to 8-6, the Rams responded and moved its lead back out to five at 13-8, with back-to-back Jones' kills.
VCU slowly fought back and navigated itself back to within one on five difference occasions, with the last time coming at 19-18. The Rams then closed out the set strong with a 6-1 flurry to clinch the set, 25-19, while forcing a 2-2 tie.
Fordham led 4-1 early in the final set, before VCU came right back to knot the score at 4-4. The home team eventually scored six of seven to take a 7-5 lead.
The Rams then tied the set at 7-7 on an attack error and a kill from Jones, but it was all VCU after that, as it scored four of the next five to take the lead for good at 11-8. Another Jones' kill would make it 11-9, but VCU answered by tallying four of the final six points to win the set, 15-11, and the match, 3-2.
Fordham concludes its season Sunday with a 12 p.m. contest at Davidson.
