BRONX, N.Y. - Winners of its last three matches, Fordham University volleyball will look to keep the momentum rolling late in the year, as they host Davidson this weekend. First serve in Saturday's matchup at the Rose Hill Gym is slated for 6:00 p.m. before the two sides square off once again Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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.
With four players beyond the century mark on offense this season, Whitley Moody leads the Fordham attack with 297 hammers at 3.67 kills/set followed by Audrey Brown just back of her with 276 at 3.37 kills per frame. Elsewhere on offense, Zoe Talabong has rattled off 158 hammers and Nailah Jenkins has slammed 127 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 402 digs (4.73/set), ahead of 253 from Moody and another 247 from Woodrow. Talabong has collected 152 total ahead of Ryan Naumann with 129, after a career-high 18 receptions a week ago. At the net, Tatum Holderied is pacing the Rams with 1.11 blocks per set, with 68.0 total blocks this season, including 11 solo, ahead of 60 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.
Building the Playoff Puzzle
With just six matches remaining in the 2023 regular season heading into Saturday, there's still much to be decided before the conference tournament begins. Sitting atop the league table at 12-0 against conference opponents, followed by Loyola Chicago at 10-2, whom the Rams will host next weekend. VCU currently resides in the No. 3 slot with Fordham currently tied for fourth in the conference with Davidson, with both sitting at 6-6 in A-10 play. Duquesne holds the final playoff spot if the tournament were to begin today, with Saint Louis a game back of them at 4-8 alongside George Washington, with George Mason and Rhode Island on the outside looking in.
The 2023 Atlantic 10 Championships are scheduled for Nov. 17-19 with the top six teams in the conference heading to Davidson, N.C. The top two seeds in the tournament will receive a first-round bye, with the two advancing teams being reseeded ahead of the semifinals. Claiming the A-10 tournament title also secures the winner an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Duelin' with Davidson
At 14-8 overall Davidson enters the week at 6-6 in A-10 play as one of the four-to-six teams fighting for what may shape up to be the final three playoff spots in the conference tournament. Looking to avenge a midweek loss to VCU, the Wildcats defeated George Mason in back to back games a week ago.
With seven players tallying 100 or more assists the Wildcats have spread out their offense, led by Elena Garcia-Guerrios with 174. Xuan Nguyen and Jessie Doyal have paced the assist numbers with 454 and 366 respectively, while defensively Bella Brady leads the receptions with 415 at 5.19/set, and a pair of players leading the block as Kayla Davis tallied 65 total blocks and Sola Omonije with 60 total.
Next Stop
Returning to the friendly confines of the Rose Hill Gym one final time in 2023, Fordham Volleyball is back in action Friday and Saturday to host Loyola Chicago.
