KINGSTON, R.I. – Making their second straight venture along I-95 in the past week, Fordham University Volleyball heads to The Ocean State Wednesday afternoon to take on Rhode Island.
Midweek Plans
Opening serve is slated for 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Wednesday marks the first of two midweek game dates across the Atlantic 10, as the entire league will be in action today and tomorrow, with the exception of Loyola Chicago and Saint Louis, who played the first of their two meetings together last Tuesday. A rivalry week of sorts, each team will take on their closest geographical A-10 opponent, and those same matchups will feature again on Oct. 29-30, flipping venues to the opposing home gyms to complete their respective season series'.
Chasing History
Entering play Wednesday, Whitley Moody has tallied 1,439 career kills, placing her just four kills shy of tying Val Bosticco (1989-92) who set a program record with 1,443 kills. Moody, who has already tallied more attack attempts than any other Fordham player in history, also would set the program record for kills per set for a career, currently averaging 3.56/set over her now five year tenure donning Maroon and White.
Rating Rhody
At 5-12 on the year, Rhode Island is looking to snap a six game losing streak, last winning against Marist on Sept. 20. Despite not taking an A-10 game thus far, the Rams did go five sets with Loyola Chicago Friday afternoon, falling just shy in the fifth set. Havyn Rolle and Madi Disu pace the Rams with over 100 kills apiece, and averaging over 2.0/set.
Down in D.C.
Hitting the road for the first time amidst the A-10 portion of the schedule, Fordham fell in four sets at George Washington Friday night. Whitley Moody would lead the Rams her eighth double-double of the season, with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Whitney Woodrow would dish out 23 helpers to pace the assists and Ryan Naumann led the team in digs with 14.
Keeping within reach for the entirety of Saturday's match, Fordham saw their opponents pull away down the stretch multiple times, falling at George Washington in straight sets. With nine kills, Whitley Moody would top the attack numbers, ahead of seven from Audrey Brown and a career-high six from freshman Mila Micunovic as well. Splitting time at setter Saturday afternoon, Whitney Woodrow would dish out 13 assists, ahead of a career-best 12 from Emma Stammeyer who saw action in both matches this weekend.
Hammer Time
Pacing the attack at over 140 kills apiece, a pair of Rams enter the second weekend of league play averaging more than 3.1 kills per set in Whitley Moody (3.37/set) and Audrey Brown (2.90/set).
In nine of her first 12 games 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 nine 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 fifth double-dip of the season in the first game against Saint Louis, posting 45 assists and 14 digs over five sets.
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 30.0 total blocks, leading a quintet of Rams with 10 or more, including Moody and Tatum Holderied with 27.0 each. Holderied has already amassed nine solo blocks, and has the best average on the block at 1.13/set
Next Stop
Fordham returns home to The Bronx this weekend to take on George Mason Saturday and Sunday at the Rose Hill Gym.
