NEW YORK – Opening a stretch that will see them play five of their next seven matches at home, Fordham University Volleyball returns to the friendly confines of the Historic Rose Hill Gymnasium for a pair of matches this weekend.
Weekend Plans
With both teams playing on Wednesday, this weekend's series will be played on Saturday and Sunday, with both matches slated for a 2:00 p.m. opening serve. Saturday's match will stream live on ESPN+ along with an international stream, and live stats available for both matches on FordhamSports.com.
More Than A Game
During both matches this weekend, Fordham Volleyball will be raising money in partnership with Mission MSA, for a cause near to the hearts of the Ramily. Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare and rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disorder that affects various systems within the nervous system. Learn more about Mission MSA and show your support with a donation to the Rams' fundraiser.
Making History
Recording the Rams' 13th point of the opening set Wednesday afternoon, and her fifth kill to that point in the match, Whitley Moody became the All-Time Program Kills Leader for Fordham Volleyball. Needing just five kills to break the mark of 1,443 set by Val Bosticco (1989-92), Moody would rattle off six kills in the first set alone, and would lead the attack hitting .308 for the match, drilling 16 kills and collecting nine digs along with a pair of service aces.
Moody, who has also tallied more attack attempts than any other Fordham player in history, is on pace to set the program record for kills per set average for a career, currently pacing at ____ over her now five year tenure donning Maroon and White.
Getting to Know George Mason
Entering the weekend at 6-11, the Patriots were swept by George Washington in the midweek, after picking up their first conference win last Friday in the first game of a weekend split at Davidson. A balanced attack, four Patriots have tallied 120 or more kills, with six players averaging over 1.4 kills per set.
Last Time Out
Falling in straight sets in Rhode Island Wednesday, the Rams would see their opponents start to pull away, using a quick run to set themselves ahead late and take a five point win in set one. A lopsided second frame would see Rhody pull ahead early, and again defend their lead through the period, winning 25-17 to go up 2-0 in the match.
In a third set that saw eight ties and four lead changes, the two would be level at 12-all before an extended run by Rhode Island put them far enough ahead to thwart a late rally by Fordham, with the home side taking a 25-20 win to take the match in straight sets.
Hammer Time
Pacing the attack at over 140 kills apiece, a pair of Rams enter the second weekend of league play in Whitley Moody (3.48/set) and Audrey Brown (2.79/set).
In 11 of her 14 games played in 2024, Moody has tallied double digit kills, highlighted by a new career high with 24 hammers while hitting .447 in a four set win over Columbia on Sept. 7. Brown has notched 10 or more kills on eight occasions thus far, including a season-high 19 kills against Lafayette on Sept. 13.
Double Trouble
Moody has also tallied eight double-doubles this season, while Whitney Woodrow sits second on the team after notching her sixth double-dip of the season last time out against Rhode Island with 19 assists and 10 digs.
Recording her first of the season against Lafayette, Ryan Naumann would tally 10 assists and 18 digs against the Leopards, and enters the weekend leading the team from the libero spot with 3.50 digs per set. Tatum Holderied would post her first career double-double with a career-high 10 kills against FDU where she also had a pair of solo blocks and eight block assists for 10 total blocks on the night.
Trouble at the Tape
Entering the weekend averaging just shy of 1.9 blocks per set as a team, the Rams have posted 10.0 or more total blocks on four occasions in 2024, most recently in game one against Saint Louis with an even 10, and the Rams have tallied 91.5 total blocks this season.
Sophia Kuyn paces the team with 33.0 total blocks, leading a group of seven Rams with 10 or more, including Moody and Tatum Holderied with 29.0 and 28.0 respectively. Holderied has already amassed nine solo blocks, and has the best average on the block at 1.07/set
Next Stop
The Maroon and White will fly out to Pittsburgh, Pa. next weekend for a pair of matches at Duquesne Friday and Saturday.
