Sept. 29, 2007

BRONX, NY -  Junior middle blocker posted a career-high nine blocks for the second time this season as #16 Dayton swept Fordham, 3-0 (30-24, 30-23, 30-18) on Saturday in Atlantic 10 volleyball action. With the win, UD (17-0, 4-0 A-10) extends the best record in the nation and its best ever start in school history.

Akerhielm was part of nine of 11.5 Flyer blocks on the afternoon as Dayton recorded its seventh sweep in its last eight matches including three straight in conference play. The junior middle blocker added eight kills while hitting at a .412 clip.

Three Flyers reached double figures in kills as senior Jamie-Lee Richards and junior Kortney Norris led the way with 11 each. Redshirt freshman Lindsay Fletemier added 10 kills of her own as Dayton out hit Fordham .360 to. 155.

Redshirt junior Erin Schroeder paced the Flyers both offensively and defensively with 44 assists and a team-high 12 digs. Defensively, she was followed by eight digs by Norris and seven each from Adrienne Green and Nicole Bateman.

Senior Robynne Green tallied nine kills in just 12 attempts as UD won for the 27th time in its last 29 Atlantic 10 Conference regular season matches.

Both offenses took the lead early in game one as Dayton beat Fordham, 30-24, as the two teams combined for just 11 attack errors. The Flyers out hit the Rams .325 to .220 as Lindsay Fletemier had five kills to go along with four each from Jamie-Lee Richards and Kortney Norris. UD took advantage of four Fordham service errors and Bethany Akerhielm had four blocks to pace the Flyers, which have won the opening game in every match this season.

Dayton continued its dominance with a 30-23 victory in game two as the Flyers out hit the Rams .314 to -.028. The UD defense stepped up with 5.5 blocks as Bethany Akerhielm led the way with three. The trio of Lindsay Fletemier, Jamie-Lee Richards and Robynne Green added two each as Dayton took a 2-0 lead in the match.

Following the intermission, UD rolled to a 30-19 victory in game three. The Flyers opened on a 9-3 run behind three early kills from Korney Norris and two more by Jamie-Lee Richards. From there, Fordham would get no closer than four the rest of way as Dayton completed the sweep of the Rams.

The Flyers return to the road next weekend for another pair of Atlantic 10 Conference matches in Philadelphia. UD takes on Temple Friday at 7 p.m. ET and La Salle on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.