WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Amanda
Krieger (Carmel, Ind.) slammed home the game-winning point
in a five-set volleyball thriller on Wednesday night as Gallaudet
University rallied from a set down to win 3-2 over Marymount (Va.)
University. The Bison won their Capital Athletic Conference and
home opener before a spirited crowd of 450 at the Field House.
Gallaudet (4-5, 1-0 CAC) started the game on fire as the Bison
rattled off a quick 25-15 first set win over the Saints (6-6, 0-2
CAC). The Bison then stumbled in the second and third sets as
Marymount took advantage of Gallaudet miscues and bad hits. The
Saints won the back-to-back sets by the scores of 25-19 and 25-22.
Senior Christina LaVigna led the Saints with a strong service game
as she recorded five consecutive service aces, during one set win,
against the Bison.
GU dug deep in the fourth set to turn the tide against
Marymount. The Bison held off the pesky Saints to win 25-18 as the
teams entered the fifth and final set knotted at two apiece. In the
fifth set, GU turned to its seniors in Justine
Jeter (Noblesville, Ind.), Shana Lehmann
(Frederick, Md.) and Krieger to help led the way. Jeter and Krieger
nailed several key kills en route to the 15-11 win.
Jeter finished the game with a season-high 26 kills and 17 digs
while Krieger added 15 kills, 12 digs and three service aces.
Lehmann made a team-high 36 digs and two service aces. Sophomore
Paige Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) led
the Bison with a season-high 52 assists, 10 digs and five kills.
Freshmen Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) and
Jessica Israel (Frederick, Md.) had nice debuts in
their first game at the GU Field House. Whited finished with 10
kills and 16 digs while Israel made a team-high four block solos
and four kills.
The win is the third straight for the Bison, who started the
season 0-4. The victory also vaults GU near the top of the
conference standings as the Bison and Salisbury University (13-1,
2-0 CAC), two-time defending CAC champions, are the only undefeated
teams in the CAC. This is the first match this season that went the
distance for the Bison.
Gallaudet will aim to extend its winning streak this weekend at
the Blue Jay Classic hosted by Elizabethtown College in
Pennsylvania. GU starts the tournament against the host Blue Jays
and Neumann University on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
