By Anthony Pucik
The 2-23 (2-9) Rams traveled to Rhode Island this weekend on a three game losing streak to battle another Atlantic 10 Ram opponent, the 16-8 (7-4) University of Rhode Island. In its first matchup of the season back at the Rose Hill Gym on Oct. 11, Rhode Island won in straight sets.
The first set was knotted at three when Rhode Island went on a nine point streak to go up 12-3. Fordham cut the deficit to four, but Rhode Island eventually ended up taking the set 25-15. The second set started much better for the Bronx Rams, who went on seven and four point streaks to go up 13-3. But, Rhode Island responded with a 16-8 run to bring itself to within two, and eventually tied the score at 23. The two Ram teams would exchange points twice before Rhode Island rattled off three in a row to complete the comeback and take the second set 27-25 to take a two set to none lead.
In the third set, both teams had mini runs, which led to a 9-9 score before Rhode Island went on a 7-4 run to go up 16-13. Fordham retied the game at 20, but Rhode Island scored five of the next seven points to take the game 25-22, and complete its second sweep of Fordham this season. Junior Brianna O’ Neil led Fordham with 10 kills and 11 digs, while junior Abigail Konovodoff added 30 assists. The loss dropped the Rams to 2-24 on the season and 2-10 in conference.
“We played tough and competed in the second and third sets,” head coach Gini Ullery said of her team’s performance this past weekend.
When asked about what made finishing off sets so difficult this season, like the second set this weekend, Ullery said, “We have to stay engaged from the beginning of the set to the end.”
Only two games remain in the regular season for the Rams, and they are both at home against A-10 opponents. George Washington comes to the Rose Hill Gym on Friday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m., followed by George Mason on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
Coach Ullery’s message to her team for the last two games is simple. “We want to see them compete, have fun and play with pride.”
__________
Anthony Pucik is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Fordham Ram.