Fordham University Rams Volleyball continues to defy expectations in 2025, stringing together a trio of compelling victories during last weekend’s Big Apple Tournament, and perhaps most intriguingly, finding different ways to win each of their matches.
After a trip upstate to Binghamton University, the Rams stayed close to home for their second tournament of the season, competing on the grounds of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York, in three matches between Friday and Saturday.
Junior Tatum Holderied, entering the weekend as the reigning Atlantic 10 (A-10) Defensive Player of the Week and sitting at third in the nation in average blocks per set, showed no signs of slowing down in the Rams’ Friday morning matchup with Northeastern University.
A narrowly contested four-set affair, Holderied, sophomore Sophia Kuyn and senior Audrey Brown smothered the net with five or more blocks apiece. As set four went to overtime, it was Kuyn and Brown who combined to deny the Huskies of a set-tying kill and secure the Rams’ first victory of the tournament.
On the attack, Fordham junior Erynn Sweeney and senior Zoe Talabong have emerged as a dynamic and versatile duo, each tabbing double-doubles as Sweeney had 12 kills and 11 digs, while Talabong hammered a match-high 18 kills to go with 10 digs.
Junior setter Whitney Woodrow carried the Rams defensively, posting a season-high 18 digs while continuing to set with confidence to all areas of the floor, notching 36 assists.
A mere five hours later, Fordham returned to the floor against the University of New Haven — despite the double-header, the Rams made quick work of the newly-minted Division I club, 25-11, 25-20, 25-19, behind another double-double from Sweeney. Holderied added seven blocks as the Rams mounted 10 total rejections, continuing their dominance at the tape.
In the closing set, sophomore Gabby Destler impressed in the third collegiate match of her career, logging four kills in 11 errorless attacks, good for a .364 hitting rate.
Fordham entered the finale vs. Columbia in search of its third straight win of non-conference play, and its third straight win over the hosting Lions — they checked off both boxes with a gutsy, come-from-behind five-set triumph, 22-25, 25-11, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10.
Talabong played the hero, crushing home a career-best 21 kills to go with a season-high 19 digs. In a tie-breaking set five, Talabong found hardwood on four kills, including each of Fordham’s final two points.
Talabong appears to be Woodrow’s go-to attacker in clutch situations; in both of Fordham’s five-set matches in 2025, Talabong has led all players in kills and drilled home the winning point for the Rams.
The 22.5-point effort from the Florida native nearly doubles her 11.5-point best from 2024, and marks the best performance of her career. The senior continues to strike with both clear force and finesse, whether she’s finishing plays after Fordham receives a free ball or bailing out the club with strong attacks while out of system.
Woodrow continued on her stellar campaign with a season-best 52 assists, adding three kills and a block as she continues to impact games as more than just a pure setter.
In the back row, it was sophomore Özge Özaslan enjoying a career night of her own, frequently laying her body on the line to earn Fordham some extra chances while the match tightened. Özaslan finished with a career-best 26 digs, stymying the Lion attack in the Rams’ must-win sets four and five.
It was fitting that Özaslan had her breakout weekend in Columbia — watching from the sidelines were Fordham’s last two lead liberos, Mallory Lipski (GSB ’23) and Ryan Naumann (FCRH ’25). Having earned chief libero duties while an underclassman, Özaslan has distanced herself from the pack with her early-season play thus far.
Playing behind Naumann as a freshman, Özaslan never reached double-digit digs. In six games as a sophomore, she’s eclipsed 10 digs five times. In fact, Özaslan has nearly tripled her digs per set, from 1.35 in 2024 to 3.83 in 2025. Fittingly, Özaslan’s 26 digs Saturday are the most by a Ram since Lipski racked up 27 in her final game during the 2023 season.
A big contributor has been Holderied’s steadiness in the front row. Notching nine kills to continue a scintillating stretch that lifts her blocks per set to 2.09, Holderied has gotten a finger on just about every opposing attack, making life easier for her back row. The Connecticut native now ranks first in the nation in blocks, with 48. Her 2.09 blocks per set are second.
Now the winner of three straight, Fordham’s 4-2 record is tied for the third-best among A-10 teams in non-conference play. While the Rams were ranked last in the A-10 preseason poll, they’ve shown signs that they may turn out more competitive than their conference rivals initially projected them to be.
Fordham will make its return home for the 22nd Rose Hill Classic this week, with matches held Thursday through Saturday, marking the official debut of the Rose Hill Gym’s 101st season. All games this weekend will be streamed on ESPN+ for fans to watch.
