Bronx, N.Y. – The La Salle volleyball team (6-14, 0-4 A-10) fell in straight sets 3-0 (24-26, 21-25, 14-25), to Fordham (1-16, 1-3 A-10) Saturday evening. Senior
Jennifer Whelan recorded her eighth match with 10 or more kills finishing with a team leading 10 on the night.
Whelan led the team in the first set thanks to a red hot start by the senior. She finished the set with five kills on only six total swings for a hitting percentage of .833. Early in the set neither team could really get much of a foothold, as they traded the lead back and forth. The Explorers had three set point opportunities after gaining a 24-21 lead late in the set thanks to another Whelan kill, however; the Rams would score the next five points to take the first set 26-24.
The second set saw Fordham jump out to an early 6-1 lead, but the Explorers would climb back into the set, narrowing the Rams lead to just 20-18 after a sophomore
Ashley Felton kill. However, the home team would be able to close out the set, 25-21, and take a 2-0 lead into the break. Three Explorers tied for the team lead with two kills in the set including,
Ashley Felton,
Jennifer Whelan, and
Laura Kuhlmeier.
Fordham came out in set three and was determined to wrap things up there. The Rams jumped out to a 6-1 lead, and were even stronger down the stretch as they took the set 25-14 for their first victory of the season. Whelan again was efficient in the third frame converting all three of her swings. Junior
Kelly Perillo added in four kills with a hitting percentage of .500 in the third frame. However, they couldn't slow down the Fordham attack who hit .500 as a team in the third set.
Junior
Michelle Healy added in 28 assists and tied for a team high with five digs on the night. Freshman
Bryanna Davis added in five digs of her own in the match as well. The Explorers had six service aces on the night including two each by Kuhlmeier and Healy.
La Salle returns to action next weekend when they hit the road again and head south to take on VCU on Friday at 7 p.m. and Davidson on Sunday at 1 p.m.
