Volleyball Opens 2019 Season at Georgia State Invitational

Season Preview | Watch (vs. Georgia State) | Schedule
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham volleyball team embarks on its 2019 campaign this weekend at the Georgia State Invitational, kicking things off against Lamar on Friday afternoon, August 30, against Lamar. On Saturday, the Rams will face both Western Carolina, at 10 a.m., and Georgia State, at 7 p.m. Only the final contest can be streamed online via the link above, but fans can follow along with live stats for all three. The links for each contest can be found on the schedule page.
 
Season Review
The Rams recorded a 10-17 overall record with a 3-11 mark in Atlantic 10 play last Fall. Fordham's seven nonconference victories, including a run of five wins in six leading up into conference play, were tied for third-most among league rivals and were tied for the second-most by the program in the last six seasons. The team saw four student-athletes graduate in May, including one starter, but return 85.7% of the team's kills and 51.4% of the team's blocks, plus the squad's starting libero and setters.
 
Senior Kaitlin Morley led the squad with 372 kills a season ago, with 295 digs and 15 aces, while classmate Morgan Williams paced the defense with 445 digs at a clip of 4.28 per set, the latter setting a new program single-season record. Morley and Williams were the lone Rams to appear in all 108 sets and have been named team captains this year. Junior McKenna Lahr, who appeared in all but two sets, contributed 279 kills, 263 digs, and a team-high 20 aces.
 
Senior Elise Benjamin, limited to 60 sets due to injury, still finished with 81 blocks, second-most on the team, with a team-high eight solo blocks, and a clip of 1.35 per set, second-most in a single campaign in program history and second-highest in the Atlantic 10 a year ago. Splitting setting duties last year were Makaela Tanaka (589) and Sophia Plett (408). The team will also see the return of 2016 Rookie of the Year and two-time Second Team All-Conference selection Olivia Fairchild, who missed last season due to injury and redshirted. Fairchild has totaled 827 kills through just two seasons and her 3.96 career kills per set rate currently ranks first in school history.
 
The Rams also welcome five new faces to the program with freshmen Megan Brzozowski, Mallory Lipski, Aria De La Rosa, Chloe Pejouan, and Aneliesa Cartledge.
 
Series Histories
Georgia State – The two schools have met once, in 2007, with the Panthers winning on home court in five sets.
 
Lamar – Similarly, Lamar and Fordham have met just once, with the Rams winning in straight sets on a neutral court in 2005.
 
Western Carolina – The two schools have never met.
 
Preseason Poll
The Rams, who finished ninth last year in the Atlantic 10, have been predicted to repeat that by the league's head coaches in the annual preseason poll. Read more here.
 
Up Next
The Rams remain on the road for next weekend's Radford Tournament. Fordham will play Norfolk State (10 a.m.) and Rider (3 p.m.) on Friday, September 6, before playing Radford the next morning at 10:45 a.m.