Atlanta, Ga. – Senior libero
Morgan Williams broke the program's four-set digs records in volleyball's lone loss of the weekend as the Rams split their Saturday doubleheader, defeating Western Carolina in the morning, 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-9, and falling to Georgia State, 25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 25-17, in the evening. Fordham wraps up its season-opening weekend with a 2-1 record.
The Rams defense continued its stellar start to the campaign, racking up 86 digs and nine blocks against the Catamounts in the morning and 84 and six, respectively, in the weekend finale. For the weekend, the defense totaled 41 blocks (eight solo) and 258 digs. Williams also ascended to third all-time in career digs, with 1,307, passing Maria Rodenberg ('13).
Fordham had a chance to sweep the Catamounts, tallying three straight kills by the trio of
Olivia Fairchild,
McKenna Lahr, and
Kaitlin Morley, to lead, 20-19, and again, 22-21, in the third set but Western Carolina held on to reach a fourth set. The Rams didn't waste time and, starting at 6-4, rattled off 10 straight points and 17 of the next 20, eventually coasting to a 25-9 win.
Offensively, 58 kills were spread around by six players, with four finishing in double digits. Lahr led the way with 13, adding 19 digs and an ace. Morley added 12 with 16 digs and a team-high three aces, while Fairchild notched 11 kills and
Joey Landeros had 10. Setting duties were split between
Makaela Tanaka and
Megan Brzozowski, who finished with 25 and 24 assists, respectively. Freshman
Chloe Pejouan made her first career start alongside classmate Brzozowski and tallied a team-high six blocks, one solo, with seven kills.
Against the hosts, the Rams rebounded from an opening set loss with a 25-17 win in the second frame but the Panthers took sets three and four to saddle Fordham with its first loss. Fairchild recorded her first double-double of the season with a team-high 11 kills and 10 digs, while Lahr notched 10 kills and 16 digs, and Brzozowski earned her first with 29 assists and 10 digs.
The Rams are back in action next weekend at the Radford Tournament. Fordham will play both Norfolk State and Rider on Friday, September 6, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
