Volleyball Announces 2023 Recruiting Class

Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham volleyball head coach Ian Choi has today announced the program's 2023 recruiting class, made up of four future Rams: Lola Fernandez, Tatum Holderied, Erynn Sweeney, and Whitney Woodrow.
 
"It's pretty unique that we're bringing in a First Year for every position in 2023." Choi said, "We've got a class that has technique, athleticism, and physicality, and I'm excited to see their competitive influence in the gym. We're graduating two starting middles this year, so competitively, that position will be wide open."
 

Fernandez, a 5'6 libero from Austin, Texas, is in her fourth year at Westwood, earning four varsity letters with the Lady Warriors under coach Tara Grant. A team captain this year, Fernandez was a Second Team All-District honoree as a sophomore and a First Team selection last year. She has accumulated over 1,800 digs and 216 aces in her high school career. At the club level, she plays with AJV 17 Adidas. They have double qualified for nationals, placed third at PNQ, fifth at the Lonestar Classic, and 11^th in Open at Nationals. Off the court, she has earned three straight Academic All-District awards.
 
"Excited to work with Lola's technical precision. I've seen her make some incredible defensive plays in the back row so she is bound to frustrate some offenses. She has the competitive mindset already so she'll fit right in."
 

Holderied, a 6'4 middle blocker from Fairfield, Conn., has earned three varsity letters at Fairfield Ludlowe under coach Aaryn Signorile. An All-FCIAC honorable mention as a sophomore, she was the state's top middle as a junior, earning First Team All-Conference honors and a FCIAC Exemplary Scholar Athlete award. This year she will serve as a team captain. Holderied plays her club ball with Northeast U18s, where they won the 17 Open AAU Grand Prix weekend. Off the court, she is a member of the National Honor Society as well as specifically in math, science, and art. She's also a High Honors scholar and a Brown Book award recipient.
 
"Tatum's size and athleticism will be huge for much-needed depth in the middle position. Her lateral agility is what I'm most impressed with as she'll strengthen our defense at the net."
 
Sweeney, a 5'11 outside/right side hitter from Cypress, Calif., has earned two varsity letters at Mater Dei under coach Dan O'Dell. The sister of current Ram Lauryn Sweeney, she was the junior varsity captain last year and is serving as team captain this year as a senior with the Monarchs. She plays her club ball with Seal Beach 18-Black where she is a team captain. During her club career, they have been Windy City 16s and 17s National Qualifier Champions in the USA Division, fifth place with the 16s at USAV Junior Nationals, National Division, runner-up at the SCVA 17s Regional Bid Tournament, and have a Top-10 finish in the Southern California Premier Volleyball League. Off the court, she is a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation, the Principal's Honor Roll, and serves as both the American Sign Language Club President and Associated Student Body Scarlet Ambassador.
 

"Even though her older sister is currently in the squad, Erynn sets herself apart as her own athlete. She skies at the pin and already possesses an elite mindset."
 
Woodrow, a 6'1 setter from Fisherville, Ky., has earned three varsity letters at Assumption under coach Ron Kordes, where she has amassed 2,813 assists. A team captain, she is a two-time First Team All-State honoree and two-time Region All-Tournament team member, plus a State All-Tournament selection this year. In 2021 she was named to the MaxPreps Underclass All-America squad. She plays her club ball with KIVA, a 2022 JVA World Champion, and helped win the 2020 Bluegrass Tournament and be named to that year's JVA All-National team. Off the court, she is a two-year National Honor Society member, three-time member of the Principal's List, and a four-time McAuley Scholar. An AP scholar last year, she was named an AP Scholar with Distinction in 2022.

 

"One of the most consistent setters I've ever evaluated in her class, we're lucky to have Whitney's leadership, competitive drive, and technical prowess. She is one of the most focused individuals I've recruited and it's going to be a spectacle to see how that'll impact our program."
 
Their future teammates wrap up the regular season this weekend at home against George Mason on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Friday's match will be streamed on ESPN+. Saturday's Senior Day ceremony, honoring the team's five seniors, will take place before the season finale.