Wilmington, N.C. – (August 25, 2023) – Behind 17 kills from
Whitley Moody and 12 kills by
Audrey Brown, the Fordham volleyball team kicked off its 2023 season with a three-set sweep of the UNCW Seahawks at the UNCW Hampton Inn University Invitational.
Final set scores were 25-18, 25-16, and 25-19. The win marks the second straight year that Fordham has won its opening match.
With the score knotted at seven in the first set, Fordham used a 9-1 run to take control of the opening frame at 16-8. UNCW cut into the Fordham lead, but the Rams maintained their edge, taking the first set by a 25-18 score behind six kills from
Whitley Moody and three kills and two blocks by
Audrey Brown.
Set two once again saw Fordham put together a big run early, scoring six straight points for a 10-4 lead. After UNCW closed to within two at 13-11, the Rams scored 12 of the final 17 points for a 25-16 set win. Moody capped the set with the final three points on two kills and a solo block.
In set three, the teams were even at 11 before Fordham scored eight of the next 12 points for a 19-15 lead. The Seahawks got back within two at 21-19, but the Rams netted the final four points to clinch the three-set sweep at 25-19.
For Fordham, Moody finished with a match-high 17 kills to go with eight digs, while Brown notched 12 kills and three blocks. The Rams also had some strong debuts, led by
Whitney Woodrow with 35 assists, eight digs, and two blocks, with
Nailah Jenkins and
Tatum Holderied each having three blocks in their first match as a Ram.
Lauryn Sweeney made her return to the Fordham line-up after missing all of 2022, posting six kills and nine digs, while
Mallory Lipski (12 digs) and
Ryan Naumann (seven digs) had solid defensive efforts.
Fordham will be in action twice on Saturday, taking on Presbyterian at 9:00 AM and Stetson on 3:00 PM to wrap up their stay at the UNCW Invitational.
Gallery: (8-26-2023) Volleyball at UNCW
