Volleyball Begins A-10 Play Hosting Fordham, Rhode Island

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DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Davidson volleyball begins conference play this weekend, welcoming a pair of Rams to Belk Arena as they begin a five-game homestand. The Wildcats will host Fordham Friday at 7 p.m. before facing off against Rhode Island Sunday at 1 p.m.

Fans can follow along via live stats and video streaming links provided, as well as following the @DavidsonVB Twitter account.

SWINGING TO THE TOP
Entering conference play, Davidson tops the league with a .246 hitting percentage. The 'Cats have totaled an efficiency as high as .347 this season, and have three players in the top 10 individually in the statistic. Freshman Ellie Crosley ranks third at .353, with junior Katharine Franz sitting in fifth at .318, and senior Kelly Friers rounds out the trio in seventh (.306). Friers is also fifth in the league in total kills (158), while Crosley ranks seventh in total blocks (46).

DOUBLE DOUBLE, TOIL AND... TRIPLE?
Junior captain Mason Rooney is one of just two players in the nation to record more than one triple double this season, and just one of five to record the achievement at least once. Rooney had double-digit kills, assists, and digs in both the Wildcats' matches vs. UNCW and Georgia. She fell one shy of a third triple double on the season this past weekend, collecting 12 kills, 18 assists, and 9 digs in the 'Cats contest with Georgia State.

Rooney is just one triple double shy of tying for the national lead, held by Taylor Smith of Eastern Illinois. Rooney also has five double doubles to accompany her two triple doubles this season. Rooney also ranks 21st in the nation with 23 service aces.

SCOUTING THE FORDHAM RAMS
Fordham enters the weekend second in the league standings with a .615 winning percentage. The squad is led by reigning Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year Olivia Fairchild. The right side has logged a league-leading 177 kills on the season and is second on the team with 111 digs. The Rams are also getting production from another rookie, as freshman McKenna Lahr is third on the team with 67 kills and second with 20 aces. She has already claimed more than one A-10 Rookie of the Week honor this season. The Rams are hitting at a .199 clip collectively.

SCOUTING THE RHODE ISLAND RAMS
Rhode Island will make a stop at VCU Friday before facing the 'Cats on Sunday. They enter league play with a 5-7 overall record, led by rookie Live Lunde Fossdal, who has 114 kills. Senior outside hitter Kylee Wolfe is closely behind with 103. The Rams rely on senior middle blocker Marie Gillcrist, the A-10's reigning Defensive Player of the Week, has 63 blocks to lead the way.

THE LAST MEETINGS
Davidson and Fordham met only once last season, with the 'Cats sweeping the Rams in Belk. Then-junior Kelly Friers led the squad with nine, while then-sophomores Mason Rooney and Ciera Cockrell added six and five, respectively. Rookie Elise Edman registered three straight services aces to accompany her team-high 10 digs. The win was the fifth time Davidson had swept an opponent during the season, and was a critical victory that helped the Wildcats earn their first ever A-10 Postseason berth. Fordham has not taken a set from the 'Cats since September of the 2015 season.

Davidson and Rhode Island faced just one time last year, with the Rams downing the 'Cats 3-1. The win clinched a spot in the A-10 Tournament for Rhody. After dropping the opening frame, Davidson fired back to take Set 2, leading by as many as four points, but came out sluggish in Set 3 to give Rhode Island the opportunity to go on multiple runs and take the contest. Kelly Friers led the team with six kills. The rookie duo of Elise Edman and Josie Treadwell posted 15 and 10 digs, respectively, in the game.

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