WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team began the defense of their North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) title Saturday night as the top-seed Bison took down fourth-seed Penn St.-Berks, 3-1, in the NEAC tournament semifinals at the Field House. The Bison, the three-time defending NEAC champs, advance to their fourth consecutive conference championship where they will face second-seed SUNYIT on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.

SUNYIT defeated third-seed Keuka College in four sets, 16-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-23, in the other semifinal. NEAC Player of the Year Kaitlyn Harrington led the Wildcats with a double-double as she tallied 17 kills and 18 digs.

Gallaudet (22-13) started slowly against the Nittany Lions (17-13) as the Bison lost the first set 20-25. GU answered with a 25-18 second set and went back and forth with Penn St.-Berks in the third set before eventually winning 25-23. In the fourth and final set, the Bison found their momentum and their service game. Gallaudet decisively won the set, 25-7, as junior outside hitter Kali Frowick (Norfolk, Neb.) served the Bison to eight straight points.

Frowick finished the match with a double-double as she tallied 12 kills and a team-high 26 digs. Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Jeter (Noblesville, Ind.) led the Bison offense with 15 kills and five digs, followed by senior opposite hitter Lane Peters (Phoenix, Ariz.) with 13 kills and four digs. Peters also had four blocks (two solo) in the match. Junior middle hitter Julia Wolff (Belleville, Ontario) and freshman middle hitter Giuletta Maucere (Frederick, Md.) pitched in with nine kills and five kills, respectively. Sophomore setter TraciAnn Hoglind (Fishers, Ind.) had a match-high 51 assists and two service aces. Sophomore Molly Perkins (Apple Valley, Minn.) also had two service aces in the Bison win. Sophomore libero Kate Fetzer (Noblesville, Ind.) contributed defensively with 23 digs.

The winner of tomorrow's NEAC championship receives an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III women's volleyball tournament.