By Emmanuel Berbari

Volleyball loves to battle from the brink, in case you have not heard already.

In almost identical fashion to its successful stead at the Rebel Challenge in Las Vegas a week ago, Fordham dropped the opener of the Battle of the Big Apple, before bouncing back with two impressive four-set wins on Saturday to claim a successful weekend.

A straight-set loss at Columbia on Friday night was not the ideal outcome for first-year head coach Ian Choi’s squad. The team was outplayed, plain and simple, falling 25-19, 25-21, 25-12, losing steam after a quality effort in the second set.

With their four-game win streak snapped, the maroon and white responded at Rose Hill, erasing St. Francis Brooklyn and edging out Dartmouth.

Lahr joined junior Kaitlin Morley in stealing the show.

The Rams rallied on several occasions behind Lahr in Game 1, as she masterfully capped off the first set with her serving prowess and followed suit in the third, creating distance from the Terriers.

11 kills, nine digs, and two aces highlighted the sophomore’s morning, and she followed up the performance with 13 kills, 14 digs and an ace in the nightcap.

Morley, a team leader for two years, contributed 12 kills, six digs and a couple of aces against the Terriers, before tallying 22 kills, 14 digs and as many aces against the Big Green.

This is not to leave out junior libero and Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week Morgan Williams’ 34 combined digs and sophomore setter Sophia Plett’s 61 combined assists, including 41 against Dartmouth, on the day.

Choi has stressed teamwork, teamwork and more teamwork throughout the non-conference schedule, and that is what was on exhibit Saturday.

At an especially convenient time, the Rams are rounding into form, winners of five of their last six and four of their last six games on their home court.

With Atlantic 10 play beginning this Saturday in a battle of the Rams with Rhode Island at Rose Hill, Fordham is in ideal shape to surprise, but can leave no stone unturned.