October 2, 2013
Sports
Page 19
Volleyball Splits First Two Conference Matches, Record Stands at 8-9 By TARA SLEDJESKI STAFF WRITER
After getting off to a 7-8 start this season, the Fordham volleyball team returned home to the Rose Hill Gym this past week to begin Atlantic 10 conference play. The Rams faced their first two A-10 opponents of the season in Rhode Island and George Mason and, despite struggles against Rhode Island, walked away with the win against George Mason. The Sept. 27 game against Rhode Island was the Rams’ second home
game of the season, but they were still looking to move to 2-0 at home after a win against Hofstra earlier in the month. Unfortunately, Rhode Island had other plans for the team and the Rams moved to 1-1 on the season at home following a 3-0 loss. The first set against Rhode Island started well for Fordham, and it kept things close before the visitors got on a run that put them up 2111 before taking the set 25-15. The second set was much of the same story as, once again, things were kept close before a Rhode Island run propelled them to a 25-16 win.
The third set also went in Rhode Island’s favor in the end, 25-14. Senior Lisa Hipp led the team in kills against Rhode Island with seven. Senior Sarah Konkel had a team leading seven assists while senior Maria Rodenberg’s 10 digs led the team. Following the loss to Rhode Island, the Rams were back in action, taking on George Mason on Sept. 28 at home. The 3-1 win by the Rams was marked by a variety of firsts. George Mason’s trip to Rose Hill was its first as an A-10 opponent, while the win itself was the
first conference win for the Rams’ first year head coach Gini Ullery. All four sets in the game were close between the two teams. George Mason took the first set 25-21 before the Rams won three straight to take the game. The Rams’ winning set scores were 2518, 25-22 and 25-22. Once again Hipp led the team with 25 kills, while Konkel had a team-leading 55 assists. Konkel, Hipp and Emily Atwood all tied with 13 digs for the most on the team against George Mason. After the win, Coach Ullery at-
tributed her team’s strong play to their fight. “We had the fight. We left it all on the court,” Ullery said. “After last night (the Rhode Island loss) we had a real long talk with the girls about just competing and leaving it all out there and they did tonight.” The Rams now have a quiet week coming up with just a home game against Duquesne on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. With a 1-1 conference record and 8-9 record overall, the Rams currently sit third in the A-10 standings.
ALLY WHITE/THE RAM
Fordham was swept by Rhode Island on Friday night but rebounded the next night to defeat George Mason, 3-1. This is the Patriots’ first season competing as a member of the Atlantic 10.
Women’s Soccer Defeats Rhode Island, 3-1, In Atlantic 10 Opener By JAKE GROGAN STAFF WRITER
Fordham opened up conference play this past Sunday at Rose Hill against Rhode Island, then 5-5, and handed URI its first conference loss of the season. The 3-1 victory came thanks to upperclass presence on offense, as junior Maria Lorena Canicatti scored twice while senior Kelsey Dougherty Howard netted her fourth of the season. Canicatti broke the 0-0 tie in the 21st minute after taking a shot from 10 yards out that found its way in to the left side of the goal. Rhode Island would tie the game four minutes later thanks to a rare mishandled ball by junior goalkeeper Ally White. The Rams went up 2-1 in the 53rd minute, after Dougherty Howard scored off of a skillful pass from junior Jessica Widmann. The scoring would continue just 22 seconds later. Widmann tied up a Rhode Island defender in a fight for the ball, allowing Canicatti to steal the ball from the distracted defender and tally her second goal of the game and of the season. Fordham would hold on to win 3-1. Dougherty Howard is clearly establishing herself as one of, if not the best, offensive weapons on this Rams team. Canicatti and freshman Nicol Natale have also
established themselves as capable scorers, while Widmann seems to be involved in most plays that produce offensive success. Such production will be welcomed when the Rams travel to La Salle to take on the 8-2 Explorers, who have only allowed 10 goals all season. “La Salle has always been a very strong team, but all we need to do defensively is exactly what we have been doing lately,” said White, when asked about the team’s defensive preparation for the Explorers. “If we stay strong against the ball and keep them away from our net, we will be successful this weekend.” White, who improved to 3-32 on Sunday, played well behind a defense that gave up just three shots on goal throughout the contest. Like the offense, the defense will have to be near flawless come Oct. 4 when going against a team that has scored 19 goals on the season. La Salle looks to be Fordham’s toughest opponent during the regular season, making a win that much more appealing to a team looking to set itself apart in conference play. Momentum certainly helps. White said as much when asked about the team’s win on Sunday, saying: “This Sunday’s win was a great way to bounce back and start a new season off right. We are into the crucial part of the season and
ANDREW ESOLDI/THE RAM
Maria Lorena Canicatti scored Fordham’s first goal of the game in the team’s 3-1 win against Rhode Island.
beating Rhode Island 3-1 is a great confidence booster.” Confidence will certainly be key this Friday. Embracing the role of the underdog is no easy task, as it requires a level of play that is de-
pendent on tenacity and a will to win greater than that of the opponent’s. Beating La Salle will take great offensive and defensive execution as well as the ability to cash in on game changing opportuni-
ties, whether they be presented or created. While difficult to achieve, a 2-0 conference record is certainly a possibility for a Rams team that looks ready to succeed in big ways.