Washington, D.C. – The Fordham volleyball team waited a month to play its second match of the new campaign but the wait was worth it as the Rams bounced back from an opening set loss to defeat George Washington on the road in four sets, 21-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-22. With the win, Fordham improves to 1-1 overall and 1-0 to begin Atlantic 10 play, while the Colonials fall to 1-8 and 0-6, respectively.
"There are no easy wins at this level." Head coach
Ian Choi said after the win, "You tack on a three-week pause, injuries, some makeshift lineups, and conference play beginning after only one preseason match and you've got an uphill battle. But the team showed grit. I'm not only proud of the win but how we did it. Bella stepped into yet another role she is unaccustomed to and still found a way to be productive. Aneliesa was another key role player providing opportunities for success on the point-scoring and defensive sides. This win was about our athletes thriving in the roles that are best for the team."
The Colonials rebounded from a slow start in the opening frame, using a 10-5 run to take the lead for good, 15-14, though the Rams never trailed by more than four in the set. It was Fordham's turn to rebound, opening the second frame with a 6-1 run, forcing a GW timeout, and eventually leading, 11-3, before the hosts began to work their way back. The Colonials got within three, 17-14, but Fordham quelled the threat and finished the set with an 8-6 run.
Fordham flourished in the third set, maintaining its momentum and sprinting away with a 12-4 run in the second half of the frame. George Washington was predominantly in control of the fourth after the Rams led in the opening minutes. Things changed in the visitors' favor beginning at 20-18 when
McKenna Lahr recorded a kill, giving serve to
Megan Brzozowski. An attack error, a block by
Aria De La Rosa and
Bella Ureña, and an ace put the visitors up three and forced a Colonial timeout. Out of the break, Lahr made it match point with a kill and, after a George Washington block, De La Rosa gave Fordham its first win of the year with a kill, her eighth of the match.
The Rams produced three double-doubles on the day.
Whitley Moody again led the squad in attack with a team-high 15 kills, hitting .275, while
Isabel Fichtel contributed a season-high 14 and Lahr a season-best 11, with Fichtel hitting .542 on 24 attacks. Moody tallied 10 digs, Lahr 14, while Brzozowski tallied 43 assists and 13 digs. Fichtel added six blocks, as well.
Mallory Lipski, making her season debut, went for 19 digs and four aces.
Fordham hit .224 to George Washington's .172, making one fewer error in attack, 24-23, and two fewer service errors, 7-5. The Rams defense produced 8.0 total blocks.
The Rams are right back in action on Sunday at George Mason at 1 p.m.
