Fordham volleyball player Whitley Moody became the school’s all-time kills leader in a match against the University of Rhode Island on Oct. 9.
Before the match, Moody, Gabelli Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ’25, an outside hitter, only needed five kills to surpass the 1,443 mark, the previous record held by Val Bosticco. She put away six kills in the first set alone.
“I never thought that breaking the record would be possible for me, so I just felt so grateful that my teammates supported me and helped me get to the point where I had the opportunity to do so,” Moody said.
Teammate Whitney Woodrow, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’27, set Moody the ball that she scored the record-breaking kill on.
“As a setter, I’m deeply invested in my hitters’ success, so seeing her succeed and do something really special makes me proud to play with her every day,” Woodrow said.
Despite the current overall deficit, the volleyball team enters the second half of the season with their heads held high and a new strategy.
The Fordham women have faced a tough first half of the season so far, despite the strong talent present on the court. Their current record stands at 5-11. The match against Rhode Island was the fifth game in a five game losing streak, broken when the team clinched a win against George Mason University on Oct. 12.
The team this year is young. Five of the 18 players are first-year students and first-time Division 1 athletes — both transitions a steep hill to climb. Additionally, the team feels the loss of star libero Mallory Lipski, GGSB ’24, Fordham’s all-time program dig leader.
Despite the current overall deficit, the volleyball team enters the second half of the season with their heads held high and a new strategy.
“A huge emphasis has been put on putting one foot in front of the other and focusing on point one of the next match; it is so easy to slip into a ‘big-picture’ mindset, but we’re working on putting our energy towards staying present and focusing on the small things,” Moody said.
These team bonding tactics are not the only unique thing about the Fordham volleyball team. Moody shared that there are five players with red hair on the team.
The team is making an active effort to bond. Considering over a quarter of the team consists of first-year students, they’ve prioritized getting to know eachother better off the court in order to perform better on the court.
“Throughout our spring, summer, and preseason training, we go on individual ‘dates’ and group ‘dates’ to find opportunities to spend time with players on the team that we might not gravitate towards naturally,” Moody said.
Coaching staff, including assistant coach Alyssa Kaufman, get in on the camaraderie: “Our team starts every practice together in the locker room doing a “team time” session together to check-in and prepare for practice after the rigor of their academic schedules, social lives, and athletic expectations. It keeps them connected, supported, and empathetic towards each individual’s experience within our team,” Kaufman said.
These team bonding tactics are not the only unique thing about the Fordham volleyball team. Moody shared that there are five players with red hair on the team.
“We’ve decided that’s the most in all of the NCAA Division 1 Volleyball teams,” Moody said.
It’s clear that there are many things that set this team apart from others, including Moody’s leadership skills, a key part of her contribution.
“I have always been a vocal leader and someone who prioritizes leading by example, and I have tried to embody both of these qualities throughout my time here. I am outspoken, loud, and competitive, and I take pride in being an emotional player and leader,” Moody said.
Her teammates and coach seem to agree with this judgment: “I noticed Whitley’s impact the moment we first started playing together. She leads by example with her competitiveness and desire to always play at her highest level,” Woodrow said.
Kaufman also shared praise for Moody’s dedication and leadership.
“It is “easier” so see how she leads the team earning points as a six-rotation OH. It is “tougher” to see how she challenges herself in our practice gym everyday to maintain and set a competitive atmosphere in the gym, harness her skill, and furthermore, build individual relationships and understanding with each member of the team,” she said.
The team has an opportunity for growth for the rest of the season, according to Woodrow.
“We’re choosing to move forward together and taking every game one at a time. Right now our emphasis is on maintaining the expectations we have for our team culture especially because this is a challenging time,” she said.
