By TARA SLEDJESKI
STAFF WRITER
After starting the Coach Gini Ullery era off strong with a 5-3 record, the Fordham Women’s Volleyball team headed to Columbia University on Sept. 13 to participate in the Columbia Invitational. In their second-to-last tournament before Atlantic 10 conference play begins at home on Sept. 27 against Rhode Island, the Rams looked to improve their game against Boston College, Binghamton and Columbia.
The tournament got off to a slow start for the Rams when they fell in straight sets to BC. The first set started out close, but ultimately went in BC’s favor 19-7. The second set was once again close in the beginning before BC took it 25-15. The third set was never in question, with BC taking it 25-12 to secure their victory.
The Fordham highlight of the BC match was Sarah Konkel picking up career assist number 2,000.
Things got better for the Rams in their second match of the tournament as they beat Binghamton 3-1. In the first set of the match, Binghamton kept things close, but the Rams took it 25-21. In the second set, Binghamton jumped out to an early lead and, despite comebacks from the Rams throughout, won it by a score of 25-21.
The third set was once again a back-and-forth battle, with the Rams winning it 25-20. The score of the fourth and final set was also 25-20 in favor of the Rams, giving them the match win.
Coming off of her milestone match, Konkel had another great match by picking up 48 assists. Maria Rodenberg reached a milestone of her own in the Binghamton match, picking up her 1,000th career dig.
The Rams finished up the Columbia Invitational by playing the host team Columbia and losing 3-1. The Rams actually started the match off by winning the first set 25-18, but Columbia came out on top in the next three sets. The score of the second set was 25-10, followed by a score of 25-14 in the third set and 25-16 in the fourth set that sent the Rams back to the Bronx with a loss.
When all was said and done, Coach Ullery was content with how her team played in the Columbia Invitational despite losing two of the three matches.
“We definitely had ups and downs this weekend,” Ullery said. “Overall, I think it was a good test for us. It showed us our strengths and weaknesses so we can prepare ourselves for the start of conference [play] in two weeks.”
Before conference play begins, the Rams have one more tournament this upcoming weekend in New Britain, Conn. The CCSU Invitational will put the Rams up against NJIT, Hartford and Central Connecticut over the course of two days. After that, the Rams will have a six-day break before conference play begins.
