Volleyball Drops Five-Set Thriller to Providence

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Bronx, N.Y. – In likely one of the longest matches in Rose Hill Gym history, in front of family, friends, and alumni, the Fordham volleyball team suffered a five-set defeat by the tightest of margins, 28-26, 18-25, 25-19, 33-35, 13-15, to Providence on Saturday evening to conclude the 18^th Rose Hill Classic. With the results, the Rams fall to 3-8, while the Friars improve to 11-1.
 
The Rams were led in attack by Whitley Moody, who matched her career-high of 20 kills for a third time, a career-best 18 kills from Aria De La Rosa, 14 kills from Bella Ureña, and nine from Chloe Pejouan. Megan Brzozowski tallied a personal-best 51 assists, adding 14 digs and tying her career-high with five kills, while Mallory Lipski had the first 30-dig match of her career, with Ure؜ña notching her first 20-dig effort, too. Pejouan led the defense with nine blocks, one solo, with six others getting in on the action.
 
The opening frame set the tone for the entire match, a back-and-forth nail biter that went beyond 25 points. After spurning four match points, the Rams didn't let it happen a fifth time behind kills from De La Rosa and Moody. The Rams had controlled the lead in the later stages of the set on more kills from the pair until a pair of Shaliyah Rhoden kills put the Friars back ahead, 22-21. An Allison Barber service error gave the Rams serve and Lipski produced an ace to get within two. After a ball-handling error by Barber, Providence's Sasha Rudich tied the game up with a pair of kills before De La Rosa tallied the first of three straight kills, the last of which was the final match point of the frame.
 
The second set, going Providence's way, and the third, going Fordham's, were less even but still hotly contested. The visitors maintained a healthy lead in the second while Fordham rushed out to a 10-2 lead early in the third and only led by less than five on one occasion the rest of the way.
 
The epic fourth set was made all the more intense with the crowd and the Fordham pep band on hand to cheer on each point. From 17-17 on the two schools traded points until a 3-0 run, starting with a Natalie Benson service error and punctuated by back-to-back Fordham blocks put the Rams ahead 23-22. A Brzozowski service error and a Jennifer Leitman ace changed that dynamic in a heartbeat, giving the Friars set point but Moody answered with a clutch kill followed by one from Pejouan. Aside from two points, the two schools exchanged 2-0 runs and match points all the way until 33-33 after a Moody kill, following that, a Leitman kill and an ace forced the fifth set.
 
Providence used four straight points to take a 9-6 lead in the final frame but the Rams would rally to even the score and retake the lead following a Friar service error, a Pejouan solo block, and a Brzozowski kill. A Pejouan kill following a ball-handling error put Fordham back on top, 12-11, but Providence finished on a 4-1 run to steal the match.
 
The Rams begin Atlantic 10 play next weekend with trips to VCU, on Friday, September 24, at 5 p.m., and at Davidson the following day at 6 p.m.
 
All-Rose Hill Classic Team
Allison Barber – Providence
Jennifer Leitman – Providence
Mallory Lipski – Fordham
Aria De La Rosa – Fordham
Lainie Putt – St. Francis Brooklyn
Iremnur Lemas – St. Francis Brooklyn