Fordham Volleyball completed the road portion of the season by splitting a pair at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh this past weekend. The Rams’ quest to qualify for the postseason over the next few weeks will take place exclusively on their Rose Hill home floor. While the standout of the weekend, freshman Audrey Brown, would have preferred a perfect 2-0 weekend, the Rams looked solid throughout both matches.

“Our stats showed we played really well on Friday and we still lost so that happens, that’s just something you gotta accept,” said Brown. “But on Saturday we came out extremely focused on the game plan and what Ian [Choi] told us to do and that’s why we won, because we worked together as a team.” 

In Friday’s tough loss, the Rams posted 20+ in each of the three sets while being swept in extremely competitive fashion. Brown played a huge role in keeping it tight with 19 kills from the outside hitter spot. But just about 20 hours later in the same gym, the Rams picked up their third road sweep of 2022 behind another 19 kills from Brown. 

 As a result of yet another stellar performance, Brown picked up the third Atlantic 10 (A-10) Rookie of the Week honor of her young career. When asked if she anticipated this level of success so early in her tenure, the humble freshman replied, “I was hopefully going to make an impact, but I wouldn’t say I expected it at all.” 

The Rams have had an up-and-down year, but the presence of a young talent in Brown has been genuinely inspiring for all. There is no telling how high Brown’s ceiling truly is. In her collegiate debut, she matched junior Whitley Moody’s career high in kills. And Moody is not just the average player to grace Rose Hill; she has led the Rams in kills in all three of her seasons with the program and has solidified herself as one of the more explosive players across the A-10. So to be compared to the highly accomplished striker so early in her career is nothing short of extraordinary.

While a spot at the A-10 tournament now seems unlikely for the Rams, the chase is not over yet. 

“A few things would have to fall into place, but we have control of our own destiny…the A-10 tournament is definitely still one of our goals,” said Brown. 

One of the only reasons the Rams are at least within shouting distance of qualifying for postseason play is a two-game set with the Saint Louis University (SLU) Billikens from the Bronx this weekend. SLU currently holds the all-important six seed in the conference and a three-game lead over the Rams. If the Rams were able to pull off the weekend sweep, then it will all come down to the final weekend of regular-season play. But if the Rams do not take both from SLU this weekend, their chances of making the tournament are officially out the window.

Stay tuned for an exciting stretch run by these talented Rams, whose considerable potential has not yet been reached during this fall campaign.