BRONX, N.Y. - With just two matches left before the playoff field is decided in the Atlantic 10, Fordham University volleyball heads to George Mason this weekend, looking to book one of six tickets to Davidson, N.C. for next weekend's conference tournament. First serve Friday is slated for 7:00 p.m. before the two sides face off again at 3:00 p.m. the following afternoon with both matches streaming 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.
Weekend Outlook
After splitting the series with Davidson two weeks ago the Rams faced off the current two seed in the conference in defending champs Loyola Chicago on senior day weekend. Despite falling to the Ramblers, Fordham remains in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Atlantic 10, and with a weekend sweep at George Mason, would lock up a spot in next week's conference tournament.
Pacing a quartet of attackers with 100+ kills this season Whitley Moody leads the Fordham attack with 330 at an average of 3.85/set followed by Audrey Brown just back of her with 315 at 3.64 kills per frame. Currently that duo sits second and third in kills per set in the Atlantic 10, while elsewhere on offense, Zoe Talabong has rattled off 190 hammers and Nailah Jenkins has slammed 145 to round out a well-balanced Rams' attack. Assisting the attack this season, Whitney Woodrow has recorded 794 assists while averaging 8.10/set, ahead of Mackenzie Colvin who's tallied 151 at 3.21/set.
Closing in on 500 digs for the season, libero Mallory Lipski has led the way defensively for the Rams with 450 digs (4.59/set), ahead of 292 from Moody and another 271 from Woodrow. At the net, Jenkins leads the block with 77.0 total ahead of 69 total from Tatum Holderied.
What to Make of Mason
With eight victories on the year, George Mason is coming off a split of last weekend's series with Duquesne, with the Patriots claiming a win in the latter meeting with the Dukes in four sets. With 254 kills Ewelina Gacek leads the offense as one of six players with over 150 hammers for the year. With three players nearing or beyond 250 assists, Gabriella Gelfound has dished out 449 helpers, ahead of 373 from Damiana Bova-Ford and 246 from Grace Kristofic. Defensively Gracie Halley leads with 431 digs at just under four per set, and Chelsea Colter leads the block with 83 total blocks, ahead of Camille Larkin's 74 and Gelfound's 73 total rejections.
Building the Playoff Puzzle
Entering the final weekend of the 2023 regular season the final three seeds in the postseason remain mathematically up for grabs, with four teams still in the hunt. The Rams' path to the postseason is simple: win and they're in. With one victory in hand on both Duquesne and Saint Louis, the Rams will control their own destiny and would clinch a playoff spot with a series sweep at George Mason. Fordham can also get in with one win this weekend and a loss by either Saint Louis against George Washington or Duquesne at Davidson.
Dayton finds themselves safe atop the league table at 16-0 against conference opponents, followed by Loyola Chicago at 14-2. VCU currently resides in the No. 3 slot, keeping with Loyola Chicago for the second bye, Davidson in fourth with two wins in hand on Fordham.
The 2023 Atlantic 10 Championships are scheduled for next Friday-Sunday Nov. 17-19, with the top six teams in the conference heading to Davidson, N.C. for the tournament. 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.
