WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gallaudet University had its women's volleyball home opener spoiled by Johns Hopkins University on Thursday night at the Field House as the Blue Jays came away with a 3-1 non-conference victory before a spirited crowd of 525.

The Bison (8-4) played strong in the final two sets as the Buff and Blue took the third set 25-18 and almost forced a fifth set but lost the fourth and final set 22-25. It was the first two sets where the visiting Blue Jays (9-3) set the tone and took Gallaudet out of the game as JHU won 10-25, 18-25. The loss snaps a three-match win streak for the Bison, who entered tonight with nine straight set wins.

Junior outside hitter Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) led the Bison with 11 kills on 43 attempts and made a team-high 12 digs. The double-double is Whited's second of the season. Freshman middle hitter Kali Frowick (Norfolk, Neb.) made 10 kills on 38 attempts to go with nine digs and three block assists. Junior middle hitter Jessica Israel (Frederick, Md.) was strong upfront with eight blocks (three block solos) and added eight kills. Senior outside hitter Paige Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) knocked down eight kills on 22 attempts and made seven digs and five blocks (one solo). Freshman setter Sarah Tubert (Burbank, Calif.) passed out 37 assists, made six kills and five digs, one service ace and one block. In total the Bison made a new season-high 21 blocks (five solos) in the loss.

Johns Hopkins won last year's match against Gallaudet by the same 3-1 margin. GU last defeated Hopkins in 2004 with a 3-2 win. Gallaudet still holds a 10-7 series advantage against the Blue Jays dating back to their first meeting in 1984. JHU has won four straight against the Bison since the 2008 season.

Prior to the match Gallaudet University President Alan Hurwitz, Dean of Student Affairs Dwight Benedict, Athletic Director Michael Weinstock and Faculty Athletic Representative Kitty Baldridge recognized the Bison volleyball team for earning their fifth consecutive American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic 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.

Gallaudet will hit the road this weekend for two non-conference matches at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Md. The Bison will go up against Messiah College on Saturday, September 24, at 4 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. match with the host Mustangs.