Volleyball Preps for 2021 Atlantic 10 Championship on Friday

Championship Central
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Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham volleyball team (8-19, 5-11 A-10) embarks on its second consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship berth this weekend, a first since the 2007-08 seasons, opening as the sixth seed against third-seeded Saint Louis (18-11, 11-5) on Friday at 5 p.m. A win would pit the Rams against second-seeded VCU on Saturday at 4 p.m.  
 
Senior Night
Prior to last Friday's win over Rhode Island, the program's four seniors - Joey Landeros, Claire O'Neil, Makaela Tanaka, and Bella Ureña, as well as student manager Brandon Aptilon, were honored alongside teammates, friends, and family.
 
Pride Match
Two weeks ago was our PRIDE match, honoring and supporting Destination Tomorrow, the Bronx's LGBTQ+ center, which you can support HERE as we continue to reach out donation goal.
 
Breast Cancer Awareness
The week before was our Breast Cancer Awareness match. Fans who have yet to donate can do so HERE and help us reach our goal!
 
#A10VB Prep with Coach Choi and Bella Ureña
Watch the pair talk about last weekend's matches, Senior Night, the growth of the team and program this year, and prepping for the A-10 Championship. 

Last Time Out
Fordham swept Rhode Island in strong fashion and solidified its spot in the postseason by taking one set on Sunday. Read about both matches here and here.
 
Where They Rank
The Rams find themselves in the top half of every statistical category within the Atlantic 10 – 5^th in hitting percentage (.193), 6^th in kills per set (12.14), and 2^th in blocks per set (2.25) to name just three.
 
At the individual level, several Rams are near the top of their respective categories. Chloe Pejouan would lead the league (and be top-10 nationally) in blocks per set if she met the proper requirements, averaging 1.63 over her 49 frames. Izzy Fichtel is tied for 3^rd in the league with 1.10 blocks per set over 60 sets. Whitley Moody is third in points per set (3.94) and fourth in kills per set (3.45), while Bella Ureña is up to 10^th with 2.88 kills per set. Mallory Lipski is third with 4.69 digs per set and Megan Brzozowski is fourth with 9.14 assists per set.
 
Nationally, Lipski is 55^th in digs per set and 49^th with 469 total digs. Moody is 64^th in attacks per set (10.77), 55^th in total attacks (1,066), and 143^rd in kills per set. Brzozowski is 132^nd in assists per set and 116^th with 859 total assists.
 
As a team, the Rams' 2.25 blocks per set would be third-highest all-time, while their collective .193 hit percentage ranks sixth. For the former, only 2005's mark of 2.44 and 2020's abbreviated 2.86 clip over 36 sets are better.
 
Block Party
The Fordham defense at the net has been one of its most fearsome in program history, averaging 2.25 per set this season across 100 sets. As stated above, that number would be third-highest all-time. It speaks to the Rams' depth that Chloe Pejouan doesn't have the requisite sets and matches played, but her number of 1.63 blocks per set would top the A-10 and be near the top of Division I and she still leads the team with 80 total blocks and seven solo blocks. Izzy Fichtel, limited by injury at times this year, still has 66 blocks and 1.10  per set, which is fourth in the league, while Aria De La Rosa contributes 0.73 per set, as well.
 
Brzozowski Enters All-Time Top-10 in Assists
As you could guess by the title, junior setter Megan Brzozowski moved into 10^th all-time, passing Mary Diamantidis ('10), several weeks ago against George Mason. Brzozowski is up to 1,776, passing Abigail Konovodoff ('15) for ninth and now Maddy Walsh ('18) into eighth place.  
 
Record Book
Brzozowski has entered the top-10 for digs, though Mallory Lipski is just outside of the digs top-10, just under 200 away, but her per-set average of 3.40 for her career continues to skyrocket and she is now third all-time in that category. Whitley Moody's current career 3.59 kills/set average would set a new program record, as of today up .2 on Olivia Fairchild ('19). Check out the record book in its entirety here.
 
2021 Recruiting Class
Head coach Ian Choi introduced three additions for the 2022 season, the Class of 2026, in outside hitters Audrey Brown and Zoe Talabong, and middle blocker Alexa Pyle. Read about it here.
 
Series History
The Billikens have dominated the all-time series since joining the Atlantic 10 in 2005, winning 24 of 25 meetings. Fordham's lone win came in five sets on the road in 2011, with Saint Louis winning 14 straight, including a sweep early in conference play and a hard-fought, five-set loss at home a few weeks ago.
 
Lipski Named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week
The Louisville native earned her first piece of league hardware by averaging nearly six digs per set over eight frames of the Rose Hill Classic. Read all about it here.
 
Moody Named A-10 Player of the Week
Moody, the reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and a three-time Rookie of the Week in the Spring, earned her first Player of the Week award and Fordham's first since 2017. Read all about her weekend here.
 
Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
As a result of their effort in the spring, the Rams were predicted by the league's head coaches to repeat their fourth-place finish in the annual preseason poll, the highest Fordham has ever finished in it, besting the previous high of sixth in 2009. Though they didn't reach their predicted finish, the Rams still secured a second straight A-10 Championship berth.
 
VB Earns AVCA Team Academic Award
For the second straight year and third time in the last four, the Rams earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic award for programs with a cumulative 3.3 GPA or higher.
 
Up Next
A loss ends the season, while a win extends it. Saturday at 4 p.m. against #2 VCU awaits with Sunday's championship taking place at 1:30 p.m. All matches will be streamed on ESPN+.