TEANECK, N.J. – A highly contested battle from start to finish, Fordham University Volleyball would trade blows with Lafayette for five sets, falling in a close final frame, 15-13.
Fordham would take a big lead as set one progressed, and had to fight off the Leopards at multiple points throughout the opening frame, holding on for a 25-23 win. Taking the lead early in set two, Lafayette would maintain their advantage for much of the set, holding a 24-20 late, before six straight points from the Rams saw them steal a 26-24 win to go up 2-0.
The Leopards would bounce back with a set three victory, and would take a strong lead in set four, holding off another Rams rally to force a fifth set. Lafayette would take the lead early in the deciding frame, and despite Fordham drawing level late, would fight off the Rams for a five set win, taking the final frame by just two.
The Rams would slam 62 kills as a team including a match-high 18 in set two and recorded 12 service aces, both season-highs for the squad in 2024, while five different Rams tallied double-digit digs, as Fordham collected 90 digs, also a season-high. Audrey Brown would pace the Fordham offense hitting at a .357 clip Friday afternoon, drilling 19 kills as one of two players in double figures alongside Whitley Moody with 14 hammers of her own.
Sophia Kuyn would tally nine kills, a new career high for the rookie, while Moody and Ryan Naumann would lead the team with 18 digs, with Naumann also recording a new career high with 10 assists on the afternoon for her first collegiate double-double.Whitney Woodrow, who finished one assist shy of her second career 50-assist outing as she tossed out 49 helpers and also tallied 17 digs.
After an even exchange of the first 18 points, Fordham would tally the next six points unanswered and managed to keep the Leopards at bay following a run of their own, halting them at 18-15. Lafayette would keep things close from there however, cutting it to as little as one, but never drew level as the Rams pulled away for a two-point win to start the afternoon.
Lafayette would gain the upper hand, going up by as much as five points early on and would hold a slim lead throughout. The Rams would cut it to a single point at nearly the same spot the Leopards did in set one, but would go up against set point trailing by four. From there, the Maroon and White would tally six unanswered points to erase the deficit and take the win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Entering the third set, Fordham would take a slim lead, and the Leopards would do the same later in the set, but the two would remain close for the duration of the frame, with Lafayette taking a slim 25-23 win. The Leopards would take the lead early in set four, garnering a strong lead and holding off the Rams the rest of the way to take a 25-21 win and force a decisive frame to 15.
Set five would see Lafayette go out front once again, forcing the Rams to fight back, eventually drawing level at 12-all, before the Leopards tallied three of the final four points to settle things and steal the win.
The Rams conclude the FDU Invitational tomorrow afternoon when they take on the host Knights at 5:00 p.m.
