RICHMOND, Va. - Coming off a decisive victory over Rhode Island in the midweek, Fordham University volleyball heads back on the road this weekend for a pair of matches at VCU. Both matches on Saturday and Sunday are slated for 1:00 p.m. and broadcast live on ESPN+.

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.

Rams vs. Rams vs. Rams vs. Rams

With the pair of matches at VCU and Wednesday's victory against Rhode Island, Fordham is amidst a stretch of three games against opponents with the same nickname. Wednesday also marked the only appearance at the Rose Hill Gym between Sept. 22 and Oct. 20, with the Rams heading to Saint Louis next week after trips to Dayton and VCU.

With a pair of players beyond the century mark on the attack, Fordham's offense has been led by two triple-digit attackers in Whitley Moody and Audrey Brown with 183 and 177 kills respectively. Halfway through her rookie campaign, Whitney Woodrow has paced the Fordham attack to the tune of 8.65 assists per set with 476 helpers dished out this season, while Mackenzie Colvin has seen time in Rams' 6-2 lineup, averaging 2.82 assists per set herself.

With a trio of players averaging over three digs per frame on the defensive end, libero Mallory Lipski has led the efforts, averaging 4.75 digs per set for the season with 261, followed by Moody at 3.24/set and Woodrow at 3.04/set. At the tape, Tatum Holderied is averaging just over a block per set with 53 total for the year, including eight solo, followed by 41 total from Nailah Jenkins who is third on the team offensively in kills as well with 95. 

VCU Clues

Winners of its last five matches, VCU comes into the weekend as one of two unbeaten teams in Atlantic 10 play alongside Dayton. After defeating Saint Louis in five sets to open conference play, the Rams would defeat the Billikens in four the second time around, before back-to-back four set wins over Duquesne, and a sweep of Davidson in the midweek.

With four players at over 100 kills for the year, the Rams have spread out their attack, led by Jasmine Knight with 135 hammers at 2.41/set, just a handful ahead of both Ana Brangioni's 131 and 127 from Parker Hartzell. Running mostly a 6-2 offense in 2023, a pair of players have split the setting chores almost evenly on the stat sheet, with AnnaBelle Tomei leading the charge with 273 just ahead of Taylor Aguano with 242 at 4.32/set.

Kialah Jefferson rounds out the triple-digit attackers for VCU with an even 100 kills coming in, and sits top three in digs with 121. Leading the receptions is Anja Kujundzik, averaging 4.77 digs per set for 267 on the year, ahead of Brangioni who is second on the team with 157. With 58 total blocks, Knight has tallied nine solo rejections, averaging just over a block per set, ahead of Kylie Loftis with 31 total and MaKenzie Chambers, who has played just 18 sets this season, but sits tied for second on the team already with 25 total blocks entering the weekend.

Next Stop

With a third straight weekend away from home, Fordham Volleyball heads to Missouri for a pair of matches at Saint Louis on Friday and Saturday.