CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It was a tightly contested opening frame Sunday but a gritty Davidson squad for the second day in a row pulled away late for the first of three as Fordham University Volleyball fell in straight sets to the Wildcats.
A competitive match right out of the gates, the two teams would exchange long rallies and extended runs through the first 18 points, tied at nine-all, with the Rams helped by an impressive four service aces by Whitley Moody on just five serves. Keeping things close from there it took a late rally by Davidson to set the difference as the first set came to a close, taking it by just three points.
Tied at seven-all early in set two, the Wildcats would use a pair of extended runs to pull away midway through the frame, going on to win it 25-15. Davidson would pull away earlier in set three, doubling up the Rams at 10-5, and going on to take an eight point win to sweep the match.
Moody led the offense with 8 kills, along with six digs, finishing ahead of Zoe Talabong with seven kills and nine digs. Audrey Brown would scatter six hammers Sunday, while Lorenza Rosenkilde and Bridget Woodruff would nail four apiece, with Rosenkilde leading the defensive stats with five total blocks, including one solo. Ryan Naumann collected 13 digs for the Rams ahead of nine from Talabong and six from Moody.
A hot start by the home side saw Davidson take a 5-1 lead, quickly erased by the Rams, who flipped the score in their favor with eight of the next nine points to lead 9-6, with Moody serving up four of those five points via a service ace. The two sides would keep things close the rest of the way, with Fordham trying to pull away multiple times before a late Wildcats' rally gave them a 25-22 win.
The second set would be close from the start, with the two trading the first 14 points this time evenly between them. Davidson would break away in the middle of the period, preventing the Rams from battling back, taking a ten point victory to lead the match 2-0. Taking control early in the third set, Davidson would hold a comfortable lead much of the way, taking a 25-17 win to sweep the Rams for the second day in a row.
Fordham will hit the road next weekend as well with a trip to the Windy City for a pair of matches at Loyola Chicago Friday and Saturday.
