KINGSTON, R.I. - Looking to build off back-to-back wins at the Rose Hill Gym last weekend, Fordham University volleyball returns to action Wednesday to take on Rhode Island in the second of two midweek matches this season. Heading to the Ocean State this time around, part two of the battle of the Rams is slated for 5:00 p.m. in Kingston.
Ramses Challenge
Fordham Athletics has a continuing fundraising challenge this year across all sports; fans can pledge support for their favorite teams in the Ramses Challenge, making a recurring donation for every service ace from Fordham Volleyball this season! Click here to be a part of the challenge! The Rams had 163 service aces last year.
For The Ramily
Friends of Fordham Volleyball day will take place against Davidson on Saturday, Oct. 28, with Donors, Friends, Family, and Alumni invited to campus to celebrate Fordham's historic 7-0 start to the season as the team gears up for final weeks of the regular season. Former members of the Fordham Volleyball program will also be recognized on the court between sets two and three.
The day will also include a lunch courtesy of Fordham Volleyball open to all Alumni, Donors, and volleyball families. The lunch will be held prior to the match at 4:00 p.m. in the new Joseph McShane Campus Center. Registration for the lunch is $40, which includes a $20 donation to Fordham Volleyball. You can sign up to join the event here.
Game two of the weekend series with Davidson will be Camper and Club Day as the Rams host local youth teams at the Rose Hill Gym on Sunday, Oct. 29, with the Rams again hosting an autograph session following the game, slated for a 1:00 p.m.
There's No Place Like Home
After three straight weekends away from the Rose Hill Gym, with the exception of the single game against Rhode Island, Fordham returned home for six of its next seven matches, including two meetings with George Washington last weekend. The Rams defeated the Revolutionaries in a thrilling five-set match Friday night, before a convincing straight set victory the following day.
Whitney Woodrow, the Rams' freshman setter, dished out 98 assists at SLU a week ago and leads the offense into play averaging 8.78 assists/set with 711 to her name thus far. Four players have tallied over 100 kills for Fordham this season, with Whitley Moody leading the group with 284 at 3.69 kills/set and Audrey Brown just back of her with 269 at 3.45 kills per frame. Elsewhere on offense, Zoe Talabong has rattled off 152 hammers and Nailah Jenkins has slammed 121 to round out a well-balanced Rams' attack.
Averaging just under five digs per set, libero Mallory Lipski has led the way defensively for the Rams with 379 digs, ahead of an even 246 from Moody and another 240 from Woodrow. Talabong has collected 126 total ahead of Ryan Naumann with 118, after a career-high 18 receptions last time out. At the net, Tatum Holderied is pacing the Rams with 1.13 blocks per set, with 68.0 total blocks this season, including 10 solo, ahead of 54 total rejections from Jenkins.
Hey Rook!
In just her second weekend in the Rams' starting lineup, freshman Lorenza Rosenkilde helped Fordham to a pair of key victories last weekend, earning herself A-10 Rookie of the Week honors. Rosenkilde would lead the efforts at the net by averaging 1.25 blocks per set, along with an even 1.0 kills per frame on the offensive end. The middle blocker from Naerum, Denmark, hit .300 in the two wins. Registering four block assists and a solo rejection Friday night, Rosenkilde tallied the same numbers at the tape the following day along with five of her eight kills for the weekend.
Read Up on Rhode Island
Looking to build momentum late in the year, Rhode Island comes in seeking its second conference victory of the season following a 4-19 start to the year. URI is coming off a victory at Duquesne in straight sets last weekend, and will head back out on the road for a pair of games at Saint Louis after the midweek.
Madi Disu leads the offense with just over 200 kills this season at a 2.71/set clip, ahead of three other players beyond the century mark as well. Hope Passerello has lived up to her name as she leads Rhode Island's assist totals with 342 while averaging 5.8/set. Hannah Blaney leads the URI dig totals with 319 and on the block Samantha Blahut paces the team with 75 total blocks including nine solo.
Next Stop
Returning to the friendly confines of the Rose Hill Gym this weekend, Fordham Volleyball is back in action Saturday for the first of two meetings with Davidson.
