GU volleyball wins four at Battlefield Classic

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – What a difference a year makes for the Gallaudet University volleyball program at the Battlefield Classic in Gettysburg, Pa. The Bison posted a perfect 4-0 record during the two-day tournament hosted by Gettysburg College. Last year, Gallaudet lost all four of its matches at the Battlefield Classic as several key players competed in the Deaflympics. This season Gallaudet (4-0) is a young team trying to fill the void left by three standout seniors, who were also members of Team USA in the Deaflympics. One hold over from Team USA is junior setter Paige Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) who helped Gallaudet finish the Battlefield Classic with an unblemished record. For her effort she was named to the all-tournament team.

The 4-0 record is the best mark for the Bison in the past four years at the Battlefield Classic. The last win for GU at the Battlefield Classic came on September 6, 2008, when the Bison posted a 3-1 win over Eastern Mennonite University. In 2007, the Bison were 3-1 at the Battlefield Classic, a traditional volleyball invitational held at the start of the season.

Gallaudet defeated Widener University (21-25, 25-21, 27-25, 28-26) and Westminster (Pa.) College (21-25, 25-13, 18-25, 25-22, 15-13) on Friday evening and completed the sweep on Saturday with wins over Rutgers University-Camden (25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-12) and Penn St.-Mont Alto (25-14, 25-18, 25-21).

Paige Johnson recorded 139 assists, 41 digs and 11 service aces for the weekend and was named to the all-tournament team. Sophomore outside hitters Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) and Mari Klassen (White Rock, British Columbia) brought the heat with the kills. Whited finished with 50 kills and 39 digs while Klassen had 43 kills, 49 digs and seven service aces. Sophomore opposite hitter Krystal Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) added 23 kills, 17 digs and four service aces. Sophomore middle hitter Jessica Israel (Frederick, Md.) tallied 33 kills, nine block solos and seven service aces. Junior libero Micaela Paulone (Fishers, Ind.) made her return to the Bison, her first start in the Buff and Blue since 2007, and finished the weekend with 66 digs.

Gallaudet will next hit the road and travel to Baltimore to face Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday, September 8, at 7 p.m.