BRONX, N.Y. – With a quartet of signees for the fall recruiting class, Head Coach Ian Choi has announced four new Rams to the 2024 Fordham University Volleyball roster.
Adding a plethora of help at all positions, the Rams will add a pair of proven pin hitters each listed at 6 '0 and 6' 4, in Bridget Woodruff and Mila Micunovic. Fordham also added a 6 '1 middle blocker, Sophia Kuyn, setter Emma Stameyer who tallied over 1000 career assists, and libero Özge Özaslan, as Fordham looks to make the Atlantic 10 postseason once again. In all the Rams have added five players, including one international student as part of this year's class to bring the 2024 roster to __ players.
One of two right-side hitters, the Rams bolster their lineup across the tape as Bridget Woodruff arrives on Rose Hill from Tacoma, Wash. where she spent all four years on her varsity team. Ranked #1 in her position in the state of Washington in 2022, the 6 '0 hitter would be named to an All-League lineup on three occasions, including making the first team in her senior campaign, where she was also named All Washington State honorable mention, while serving as a team captain that season as well.
A proven winner also on the club side, she would earn regional bids as a receiver the last five seasons, and helped her teams to multiple regional championships at the U-16, U-17, and U-18 levels. Woodruff intends to major in Political Science.
Coach Choi on Woodruff -"She's a solid athlete who consistently swings high and as a lefty, she'll definitely help keep our offense spread especially by converting what is typically the weak side to the power side"
Looking to contend as one of the top blocking teams in the A-10 once again in 2024, Sophia Kuyn will help the Rams on both sides of the ball from the Middle Blocker position. A four-year varsity athlete, her senior campaign alone would see her earn AVCA All-Region and All-America honors, while also earning first team all district honors as a team captain in 2023.
A two-time Co-Defensive MVP, the 6 '1 blocker would also earn a pair of All-tournament selections at the Katy tournament in 2022 and 2023, while earning second team all district honors in 2022, and an honorable mention her sophomore campaign. An Academic All-District selection all four years as well, Kuyn intends to major in Biological Sciences.
Coach Choi on Kuyn - "Sophia is an agile middle with solid reaction speed and athleticism which makes her an ideal middle blocker for us. I'm also excited about her versatility as she's just as skilled attacking off two feet or one. Pair that with an incredible work ethic and a patient maturity, there is no doubt that she is going to make a positive impact for our program."
Adding depth at the setter slot for the Rams, Emma Stammeyer comes to The Bronx from Coralville, Iowa, after capping her club season in 2023 with the 17U National Championship at USA Volleyball Jr Nationals. Winning her club title a year after finishing as the U16 runner up with Six Pack Volleyball Club, Stammeyer would also shine on her high school team, tallying over 1000 career assists and 500 career digs.
A team captain her final two seasons, she would spend all four years on the varsity squad, garnering Second Team All-Conference accolades her senior campaign, while earning All-Academic honors as well. Stammeyer intends to major in Business Administration, with concentrations in Management and Sports Business.
Coach Choi on Stammeyer: Emma's footspeed and offensive tempo will fit right in with the Ramily. As a lefty setter, I'm also excited to see her as an offensive threat and how that will disrupt our opponents defensive rhythms.
Another talented hitter from both ends of the tape, Mila Micunovic heads up the Atlantic from Riviera Beach, Fla. to the Five Boroughs. Finishing Top-25 in hitting percentage in 2022 according to MaxPreps, she helped her team to its first district championship since 1995 during her senior campaign. A Sentinel 1st team All-County selection last year as well, she also garnered Palm Beach County First Team Honors while helping her team earn the award for best team offense in 2023.
A two-time varsity captain, Micunovic was named to the JVA Watchlist following her stellar 2023, she would also shine in the classroom, graduating in the Top 6% of her class. Checking in at 6 '4, the Rams will have five pin hitters listed at 6' 0 or taller, and like her fellow classmates, Micunovic also comes to New York following a four year varsity career.
Coach Choi on Micunovic - "Mila has an unrivaled physicality for her versatility as a 6 rotation pin hitter. But really, I'm most excited for her sense of humor. Despite her obvious contributions to the competitiveness in our gym, I'm certain that she'll help shape a more robust culture for Fordham Volleyball."
Rounding out the quintet of new additions for the Rams is Özge Özaslan who arrives in the Big Apple from Istanbul, Turkey, adding depth at the libero spot for the Maroon and White in the coming years. Another player with a winning history, she would earn a pair of silver medals in 2022 and 2023 representing Turkey in the U-17 European Championships, while also playing in the U-17 Balkan European Championship in 2022.
Coach Choi on Özaslan -"As a Division I school in the heart of NYC we know our recruiting isn't limited to the US. Some incredible volleyball comes out of Turkey and right from the start, we noticed Özge's athleticism and defensive reaction to the ball. The libero position this year is going to be fun to watch and I'm excited to see how our liberos will push each other in a supportive and competitive way."
Fordham Volleyball kicks off the 2024 campaign with a pair of matches in Colorado on Aug. 30-31 against Air Force and South Dakota.
