Fairfax, Va. – The Fordham volleyball team suffered its third straight loss for a first time this season when it fell in four sets at George Mason, 25-9, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22, in its first road Atlantic 10 contest of the campaign. With the loss, the Rams fall to 8-9 overall and 1-3 in league play, while the Patriots improve to 5-9 and 3-1, respectively.
"George Mason ran a fast and fluid offense and it took a couple of sets for us to acclimate defensively," Head coach
Ian Choi said, "Offensively, they kept us out of system more than we're accustomed to so in the end it was about consistently executing at a high level, which requires a certain attitude that we're still cultivating. I'm eagerly anticipating the challenge George Washington will offer us tomorrow to see how our athletes can continue to grow."
The Rams were held to their lowest single-set total of the season, nine, in the opening frame, committing eight errors in attack compared to four kills. Their previous low was 12 at Columbia. Fordham regrouped on offense in the ensuing set, tallying just one error in attack with 13 kills (.324) but the Patriots' offense kept its foot on the gas with 20 kills.
Fordham rallied back from 19-13 down in the third set to keep the match alive, finishing the frame with a combined seven kills from
McKenna Lahr and
Joey Landeros, plus a block from the former and
Claire O'Neil, but fell in the fourth despite two late rallies to get within three, 20-17, and two, 24-22.
Lahr led the way offensively with 14 kills at a .310 clip with 13 digs and four blocks, tallying her seventh double-double of the season and fifth straight.
Kaitlin Morley, likewise, enjoyed her fifth straight double-double, and 10
th overall, tallying a career-best 20 digs but struggling on offense with 10 kills and seven errors. Landeros added eight kills and three blocks, while O'Neil chipped in six kills and three blocks.
Makaela Tanaka notched her second double-double of the year with 23 assists and 13 digs, combining with
Sophia Plett, who had 13 assists.
Morgan Williams tallied 16 digs.
Elise Benjamin led the team with six blocks, one solo.
The Rams are right back in action tomorrow night at George Washington in a 7 p.m. match, which will be streamed on ESPN+.
