Fordham Volleyball hosted the Davidson College Wildcats on Sept. 25 to open up Atlantic 10 conference play at the Rose Hill Gymnasium. Unfortunately for the Rams, they dropped a tough four-set match to the Wildcats.
Davidson took an early 5-1 lead on Fordham, but the Rams were able to rally behind strong play from sophomore Molly Oshinski and junior Kristen Ostach, and took the lead 7-5 after six unanswered points. After an intense back and forth between the two teams the Rams emerged victorious taking the set 25-21.
The intensity rolled over to the next set with the teams continuing to trade the lead. No side leading by more than three throughout the entire set, but the Rams eventually dropped the set 25-23 to the Wildcats.
The back and forth battle between the two teams was a theme for the match as the third set got started and the Rams battled out to a 7-6 lead. After falling behind 16-10, Fordham rallied behind a pair of Oshinski kills and a pair of aces by freshman Natalie Martinez to bring the game within one.
Despite a tough fight from the Rams they ultimately dropped the set 30-28.
In the fourth set the Rams kept it competitive early, but Davidson went on a 7-0 run that proved to be too much for Fordham to overcome. The Rams lost the set 25-18, and Davidson took the game three sets to one.
Oshinski finished the game with a team-high 15 kills while Martinez contributed three aces. Freshman Olivia LaPorta added three blocks, sophomore Emily Fronk added 47 assists and senior Brianna O’Neil led the team with 13 digs.
Fordham continued conference play on Friday, Sept. 25, against the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams.
Fordham got out to a slow start in the first set committing multiple attacking errors and falling behind 13-6. The team eventually found its rhythm and scored seven unanswered points to tie the game 13-13. Fordham continued that momentum and went on to win the set 25-21.
In the next set, Fordham took a commanding lead at 12-4. Despite rally attempts by VCU, Fordham never relinquished the lead and won the set 25-18.
The end of the third set was a nail biter for Fordham, who held the lead for most of the set until VCU took the lead 20-19.
Behind back-to-back kills from freshman Brenna Jones, Fordham rallied to win the set 25-22 and complete the sweep of the Rams from Virginia.
Ostach led with 13 kills while LaPorta had two aces and three blocks, both team-highs for the ame. Fronk added 29 assists and Oshinski had nine digs in the victory.
Fordham is now 7-11 on the season with a 1-1 record in the A-10.
The Rams continue conference play on the road next with a trip to Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 2 to face the Flyers at 7 p.m. and stay in the Midwest to take on St. Louis on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m.
