Volleyball Kicks Season Off with Blue Devil Classic

Watch Live (vs. CCSU)
Live Stats (vs. Lehigh) | Live Stats (vs. Iona) | Live Stats (vs. CCSU)
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The 2016 volleyball season is finally upon us, with the Fordham volleyball team beginning its campaign up I-95 at Central Connecticut State for the Blue Devil Classic. The Rams, in their fourth year under head coach Gini Ullery, will square off with Lehigh on Friday night at 7 p.m., before taking on both Iona and the Blue Devils in a Saturday double tilt. Saturday's matches will be at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
 
Only Fordham's match with the hosts can be seen live, online at NECFrontRow.com, while fans can follow along with the action in the other two contests through the links above.
 
The Rams were recently picked to replicate last year's ninth place finish in the Atlantic 10 preseason coaches' poll after an 8-23, 2-12 record a year ago. However, there is plenty of room for optimism with a balanced mix of experience and talented youth, including an exciting and deep incoming recruiting class. Ullery's squad only loses one starter, libero Brennan Delsing, and a pair of key role players in Brianna O'Neil and Abigail Konovodoff, but the core of last year's young starting line-up remains.
 
This year's team boasts the top four leaders in kills from last year's squad, Breanna Jones (291), Natalie Martinez (236), Olivia LaPorta (145), and the team's lone senior Kristen Ostach (134). Four of the top five leaders in digs, Clarissa Cartledge (202), Jones (182), Emily Fronk (166), and Molly Oshinski (127), return, as well as the team's main setter, Fronk, who finished with 733 assists a year ago. On defense, the team returns its top three blockers, LaPorta, Martinez, and Ostach, who combined for 191 total blocks, plus middle hitter Nicole Freeley, who added 24 total blocks.
 
Along with the youthful yet experienced starting lineup, this year's incoming class provides fresh depth at all positions. Freshman outside hitter Olivia Fairchild enjoyed a highly decorated high school career at Desert Vista, the Max Preps #1 team in the nation, while freshman Morgan Williams will provide juniors Grace Muller and Clarissa Cartledge with help and competition at libero and along the back line. Sophomore Maddy Welsh should slide into the back-up role behind Fronk after spending a season at St. Mary's in Texas, while Elise Benjamin and Kaitlin Morley will provide depth up front.
 
This weekend's opponents, Lehigh, Iona, and Central Connecticut State, went a combined 40-49 last season.
 
Central Connecticut State finished last year with an 11-16 overall record and have been picked to finish fifth in this year's Northeast Conference. The Blue Devils return a veteran roster made up of five seniors, plus sophomore Raquel Quirarte and her team-leading 221 kills. The hosts are coached by Linda Sagnelli, the school's all-time winningest coach, in her 17^th season.
 
Lehigh, with the best record last year of the trio at 19-13, has been picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll. The Mountain Hawks have reached their conference tournament in each of the past five seasons under head coach Bob Bertucci, including a runner-up finish in 2014. Sophomore setter Megan Polak has also been named to the preseason All-Patriot League team, despite only starting in three of her 29 appearances a year ago.
 
Iona, who ended last season at 10-20 overall and have been selected to finish eighth in the MAAC, are looking to start its season out with a bang under first year head coach Patric Santiago. The Gaels, like the Rams, feature lots of youth, including All-Rookie selections Claire Archibald and Jessica Paolucci, as well as one-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Amanda Gannon.
 
After this weekend, Fordham will return home to host Manhattan next Wednesday night in the first home game of the season. That match is schedule to begin at 7 p.m.