RICHMOND, Va. – Bouncing back strong after a tough four set defeat a day ago, Fordham University volleyball flipped the script on VCU with a four set victory Sunday in Virginia. The win splits the weekend series and hands VCU its first loss in Atlantic 10 play this season.
Led by a career-day from Zoe Talabong, the outside would tally a team-best 17 kills to go along with 15 digs, pacing 53 total kills by the Rams for the day. Whitley Moody would drill 13 hammers along with 11 digs, while Audrey Brown tallied nine kills. Whitney Woodrow would control the offense again with 40 assists and 17 digs, with a pair of players adding an additional five hammers apiece.
Defensively, Mallory Lipski would collect 24 digs to lead the receptions once again, as the Rams collected 94 across the afternoon, scattered between eight players, including five in double figures. Ryan Naumann would find herself a part of that group with 11 digs, while on the block Tatum Holderied for the second match in a row tallied a solo block and five block assists.
"It's a testament to our team's character when we can turn it around after a disappointing showing," said Head Coach Ian Choi. "Despite the inevitable doubt, we found a way to trust the process but more importantly execute with urgency. Incredibly proud of every single member of this squad."
With the first ten points of the day split five apiece, Fordham took an early lead, holding a six point advantage at the media timeout in the opener. VCU would cut the deficit to as little as three late but the visitors would see out a win 25-22 in the frame.
In the second set, Fordham would once again strike first, tallying the first three points in the set, and going on to take a big lead at 11-4 in the early stages. That early lead would give the Rams strong footing, taking as much as an eight point advantage at one point, before going up 2-0 in the match with a 25-18 win in set two.
The third stanza would see the home side pull away late despite the set starting head-to-head, exchanging the first 20 points evenly this time around. Going into the fourth, still up by a set, Fordham would have to battle point for point with VCU once more, with the two sides squared at 11-all before a quick run by the home side to take the lead. Fordham would use a five point run late to go from trailing by three to up a point, and despite VCU tying the match twice more, the Rams would take the set win 25-22 to win the match and split the season series.
Fordham volleyball is back in action next Friday for the first of two games at Saint Louis.
