WASHINGTON, D.C. – A loud and lively crowd greeted the Gallaudet University women's volleyball team Wednesday night at the Field House as the Bison made their 2012 home debut and sent all 400 fans home happy with a straight set win over Goucher College.

The Bison sailed through the first two sets winning 25-15 and 25-16 before they ran into trouble in the third set. Goucher (3-7) led 22-18 and still owned the serve before a bad set gave Gallaudet (7-2) the point and the serve. Sophomore Kali Frowick (Norfolk, Neb.) would serve the Bison to victory as GU scored five straight points before the Goucher's Sami Kennelly (four kills) threw down a kill to stop the run at 24-23. Senior outside hitter Ann Whited (Fisher, Ind.) ended the match with her 11th kill of the night.

Frowick led all hitters with a game-high 15 kills and 12 digs while Whited added 11 kills, nine digs and fellow senior Jessica Israel (Frederick, Md.) was the third Bison in double digits with 10 kills on 15 attempts. Sophomore setter Sarah Tubert (Burbank, Calif.) 41 assists and freshman Kate Fetzer (Noblesville, Ind.) added 13 digs. Goucher was led by Megan Chalk's seven kills and eight digs in the loss.

Prior to the match Gallaudet University President Alan Hurwitz, Provost Stephen Weiner, Athletic Director Michael Weinstock and Faculty Athletic Representative Kitty Baldridge recognized the Bison volleyball team for earning their sixth consecutive American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) 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 next travel to Salisbury, Md., this Friday to participate in the Sea Gull Classic where the Bison will face-off against DeSales University (4-6) and nationally ranked #24 Salisbury University (9-1). On Saturday, Gallaudet will go up against Centenary (N.J.) College (2-7) and Baldwin Wallace University (3-7).

The Gallaudet women's volleyball team recognized before the start of
Wednesday's match for earning a sixth straight AVCA Team Academic Award.