BALTIMORE -- Despite losing in three sets, the Fordham women's volleyball team was highly competitive in a 3-0 loss Friday night at UMBC, as the Rams started play at the Terrier's Maddie Bingaman Memorial Tournament. Fordham dropped the first two sets by two points, falling 27-25 and 25-23, before coming up short in the final set, 25-20. With the loss, the Rams fall to 3-6 on the season, while UMBC improves to 5-4 overall.
Freshman
Breanna Jones led Fordham with 10 kills, while sophomore
Sarah Skelton added seven. Senior
Abigail Konovodoff led the way with 18 assists, and sophomore
Clarissa Cartledge compiled 12 digs.
The Rams dug themselves into an 8-3 hole to open the first set, before a kill from freshman
Olivia LaPorta started a 6-2 spurt, as fellow classmate
Natalie Martinez's ace brought Fordham to within one at 11-10.
The Terriers continued to hold on to the lead until a kill from Jones triggered three straight points and gave the Rams a 21-20 advantage. The lead then inched out to 23-21 after a Konovodoff kill, but the home team fought back to deadlock the set at 23-23.
Fordham had two opportunities to claim the set, first when a LaPorta kill moved the Rams in front 24-23, and Skelton smashed a kill for a 25-24 advantage. However, UMBC used a kill and two service aces to take the first set, 27-25.
Five ties took place over the first 20 points of the second set. Trailing 10-9, Jones' kill started a string of three straight points to produce a 12-10 lead for
Fordham. The Terriers responded with a 7-1 run to recapture the lead at 17-13.
Down 21-15, the Rams made a move, as a kill from junior
Kristen Ostach facilitated seven unanswered points for Fordham, who regained the advantage at 22-21.
After UMBC took its turn for the lead at 23-22, Ostach tied the set with another kill. But back-to-back kills from the Terriers clinched the set at 25-23 and allowed the home team to take a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, Fordham was down 4-2 early on, before a 6-2 flurry capped by a Cartledge service ace produced an 8-6 lead. However, UMBC answered with a 9-3 run to take the lead for good at 15-11.
A service ace from Jones brought the Rams to within two at 16-14, but it was the closest they would get, as the Terriers tallied five of the next six points to cruise to the 25-20 win and a 3-0 victory.
Fordham concludes the tournament Saturday with two matches. The Rams take on Morgan State at 10 a.m., before taking on Rider at 3 p.m.
