Bison bury Gophers in home opener, 3-0

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gallaudet University volleyball team had waited three long weeks to make their home debut at the Field House and on Wednesday night the Bison delivered a 3-0 victory over Goucher College to the crowd of 450. The victory snapped a five match winless streak for the Bison.

Gallaudet (6-8) jumped out early on Goucher (2-7) as the Bison won the first set 25-16. The second set was closer but the result the same as GU won 25-21 before it closed out the game with a 25-16 third set victory.

Sophomore Jessica Israel (Frederick, Md.) paced the Bison attack with 12 kills (.857 hitting percentage). Fellow sophomore Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) added eight kills and eight digs while sophomore Krystal Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) recorded six kills, five digs and four service aces. Krystal's sister Paige Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) finished the game with 27 assists, eight digs, four kills and three service aces. Junior Micaela Paulone (Fishers, Ind.) and sophomore Mari Klassen (White Rock, British Columbia) had 15 digs apiece.

Prior to the start of tonight's match the Bison were officially presented with their 2009-10 American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. The presentation was made by Gallaudet President Alan Hurwitz, Provost Stephen Weiner, Dean Dwight Benedict and Faculty Athletic Representative Kitty Baldridge. This is the fourth consecutive year the Bison have captured this award. The AVCA Team Academic Award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

Gallaudet will next hit the road this weekend and travel to Abington, Pa., to participate in its first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) action. The Bison will start with two NEAC matches against Penn St.-Berks and College of St. Elizabeth on Saturday, September 25. The following day the Bison will go up against Penn St.-Abington and Penn St.-Harrisburg.