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Box Score 4 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team took second-place honors in the sixth annual Worthingon Classic hosted at the Field House this weekend. The Bison reeled off three straight wins to start the tournament before it fell to Messiah College, 3-1, in the championship match on Saturday evening before a frenzied crowd of 350.
The Bison finished undefeated in pool play as they defeated Trine (Ind.) University, 3-0, and Marymount (Va.) University, 3-2, on the opening night of the two-day tournament and then knocked off Wheaton (Mass.) College in straight sets on Saturday morning en route to their fifth consecutive appearance in the Worthington Classic championship. Seniors Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) and Jessica Israel (Frederick, Md.) led the way for the Bison with dominant performances throughout the weekend and each were named to the all-tournament team. Whited totaled 44 kills, seven service aces and a team-high 46 digs while Israel added 41 kills and 13 total blocks as the Bison fell just short of winning their second consecutive championship.
After dropping the first set to Messiah, the Bison took control early in the second set and never looked back as they downed the Falcons 25-18 to even the match at one. The Bison then lost the third set 25-20 before pushing the Falcons to the brink in a 25-23 loss in the fourth set. The Falcons (11-7), who also finished the tournament 3-1, were led by senior outside hitter Lauren Rees who finished the match with 17 kills and was named tournament MVP. The loss ended a seven-match winning streak for the Bison (17-5).
This year's tournament boasted one of the best fields in the six-year history of the event as seven of the eight teams entered the tournament with a winning record. Several participating teams were regionally ranked at the end of last year including Messiah (7th in the Mid-Atlantic region) and Washington & Lee University (5th in the South). Gallaudet has won this tournament, named in honor Gallaudet legendary coach Peg Worthington, three different times.
The Bison travel to University of Mary Washington on Thursday, Oct. 4, in a non-conference matchup before returning back to conference play in home matches against Lancaster Bible College and Penn St.-Abington on Friday, Oct. 5, at the Field House.
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