Kingston, R.I. – Fordham volleyball earned its first Atlantic 10 victory of the 2022 season on Wednesday, and fifth sweep, setting down Rhode Island in three frames, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21. With the win, the Rams improve to 7-9 overall and 1-4 in league action.
The (visiting) Rams took some time to get into their rhythm but did so with a flourish, turning a 17-13 deficit into a 22-18 lead in the opening set. The hosts rallied to tie things up at 23-all, but a
Zoe Talabong kill and then a Gabrielle Shilling attack error gave Fordham the first third of the win. Rhode Island used a run midway through the second to grasp brief control of the frame, leading 17-15, but a
Whitley Moody kill started a 5-0 run that eventually ballooned to a 10-3 run by set's end, capped by another Moody kill.
Fordham began the third set with a 7-2 run, prompting a Rhody timeout. After several back-and-forth points, the hosts went on a run to tie the set, 9-9, and eventually held a 16-12 advantage, with the visitors taking a timeout the point prior. Fordham earned four points to tie the set up and after a Rhode Island kill used five consecutive points to wrest control of things, though Rhody came close with a minor run to get within one, 22-21, before a trio of freshman kills, two from Talabong and the match-ender from
Audrey Brown, sealed the match for the Rams.
Moody paced all players with 11 kills, while Brown and Talabong posted eight apiece, the former hitting .368, with
Aria De La Rosa and
Chloe Pejouan adding six, the latter hitting a team-high .417. Pejouan also added a match-high six blocks, one solo. Splitting setting duties were
Megan Brzozowski and
Mackenzie Colvin, each assisting on 16 points, while
Mallory Lipski racked up 19 digs, plus five assists and an ace. Talabong added 12 digs, as well. Of the team's six aces, Colvin tallied two.
Fordham returns home this weekend to host VCU for a pair of matches on Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Friday's match will be streamed on ESPN+.
