Women's Volleyball Heads to Baltimore This Weekend

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BRONX, N.Y. -- The Fordham women's volleyball team (3-5) returns to action Friday and Saturday by playing in its third tournament of the season. The Rams head to Baltimore, Md. to compete at UMBC's Maddie Bingaman Memorial Tournament, where the Rams will face the hosts Friday night (7 p.m.), before squaring off against Morgan State (10 a.m.) and Rider (3 p.m.).

Last Time Out
Fordham collected its first road win of the season Tuesday night when the Rams made the local trip in the Bronx to defeat Manhattan, 3-1, at Draddy Gym in the "Battle of the Bronx" match. Fordham lost a hard-fought first set, 27-25, before regrouping to claim the final three sets by scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-23.

The Rams used 18 service aces in the match to help its cause, which tied a program record. Freshman Natalie Martinez led the way with a season-high five, while sophomore Clarissa Cartledge and freshmen Breanna Jones and Olivia LaPorta each added three, with Cartledge setting a new career high and Jones a season best. Rounding out the aces with two apiece was senior Abigail Konovodoff and sophomore Molly Oshinski.

Martinez also collected her first career double-double with a team-high 10 kills and 14 digs while tying a season high in blocks with three. Sophomore Sarah Skelton just missed a double-double with a career-best 20 digs and nine kills, while Konovodoff earned her first double-double of the year with season highs of 38 assists, 14 digs and four blocks. La Porta also paced the Rams with five blocks and added a season-high seven digs and six kills, and Cartledge added 10 digs and a career-best five assists.

UMBC
2015 Season: 3-4
When: Friday, Sept. 11 - 7 p.m.
Where: Baltimore, Md. (RAC Arena)
What You Need To Know: The Terriers have lost four of their last five matches after starting out the season 2-0 with wins at Rose Hill Classic champion Robert Morris and versus Loyola (Md.) in the Robert Morris Invitational. UMBC is coming off a 3-1 loss in its home opener to Howard earlier this week, after salvaging a 3-1 victory over Bryant at the UConn Dog Pound Challenge in Storrs, Conn. last weekend. The Terriers feature three players with 60 or more kills, with Maddie Schneider leading the way with 82. She also has a team-best eight service aces and adds 46 digs. Makenzie Morgan has recorded 65 kills and 54 digs, while Krystal Williams has registered 60 kills and 16 blocks. UMBC also has a pair of setters in Paige Miller and Claudia Lopez. Miller leads the team with 129 assists to go along with seven service aces and 40 digs. Lopez needs eight more assists to reach 100 for the season. Carola DeJesus has compiled the most digs with 83 and has five service aces to her credit, and Marissa Duncan is the top blocker with 20.

Morgan State
2015 Season: 1-7
When: Saturday, Sept. 12 - 10 a.m.
Where: Baltimore, Md. (RAC Arena)
What You Need To Know: The Bears dropped their first six matches of the season, all by scores of 3-0, before breaking into the win column with a 3-0 win at Chicago State. Earlier this week, Morgan State lost at home to Georgetown, 3-0, who lost to Fordham in five sets at last weekend's Rose Hill Classic. Arianna Hayden is the best all-around player for the Bears with a team-high 59 kills to go along with 41 digs, nine total blocks and six service aces. Keana Brown is right behind with 57 kills and a team-best 12 blocks, while Carmen Fernandez leads the squad with 131 assists and 10 service aces while tallying 33 digs. Samantha Prescott leads the team in digs with 97.

Rider
2015 Season: 4-4
When: Saturday, Sept. 12 - 3 p.m.
Where: Baltimore, Md. (RAC Arena)
What You Need To Know: The Broncs alternated wins over their first six matches, which included a pair of 3-1 victories over UMass-Lowell and a 3-1 win at St. Francis Brooklyn, who the Rams swept in their home opener last week. After dropping a pair of 3-1 matches to Valparaiso and NJIT at the St. Francis Brooklyn Terrier Invitational, Rider won its home opener, 3-0, over Iona to start Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. The Broncs appear to be very well-rounded on paper and strong at the net. Catie Harding has 85 kills, 79 digs, 11 total blocks and five service aces. Kaitlyn Griffin is second in kills with 84 to go along with eight service aces and a team-high 25 blocks, while Hailey Riede adds 75 kills and 14 total blocks. Rider features a pair of setters in Brandie Hill, who leads the team with 171 assists and 11 service aces while adding 87 digs, and Veronica Koval (138 A, 49 D, 6 SA). Emma Aldaya paces the Broncs with 160 digs and is third with 27 assists.

Up Next
Fordham returns to action Tuesday, Sept. 15 when it makes the short trip to Jersey City, N.J. to face Saint Peter's, with first serve slated for 7 p.m.