DAYTON, Ohio. – A valiant third set Saturday afternoon saw Fordham University volleyball hold its own against No. 21 Dayton for much of the frame, taking the lead on multiple occasions before the home side would pull away to claim the victory.
With seven players contributing kills to the attack, Zoe Talabong led the group with nine hammers on the afternoon, ahead of seven from Audrey Brown who would lead the Rams' efforts at the tape with a trio of block assists. Nailah Jenkins would add three kills and a pair of block assists as well, with Lauryn Sweeney also assisting on a single block as well.
Eight Rams would tally at least one dig, led by eight from Whitney Woodrow, seven from Lola Fernandez who made her first collegiate start for Fordham on Saturday, and six from Mallory Lipski. Woodrow would lead the assist numbers with 19, while three players would follow her and Fernandez with five digs apiece including Talabong, Brown, and Ryan Naumann.
Going back and forth in the early going, Dayton would use a pair of five-point runs to stretch their lead through the middle stages of the set. A 6-1 run by Fordham would see the visitors cut into the deficit, but the Flyers would hold their ground late to take the opener.
Set two would see the home side break out early, but the Rams would remain resilient and keep the frame within reach before Dayton could pull away late to go up 2-0 in the match. Dominating the early stages of set three Fordham would shutout the Flyers by scoring the first six points of the set, forcing a defensive sub by Dayton.
The Rams would hold the lead for a handful of points beyond that before an opposing run turned that two a three-point deficit. Staying in the fight beyond that, Fordham would jockey for points through the middle of the set, taking the lead once more, but a pair of late runs by Dayton gave the win to the Flyers.
The Rams have a quick turnaround to try and bounce back, hosting Rhode Island this Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 5:00 p.m. in what will also be Fordham Volleyball's Breast Cancer Awareness match.
