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Box Score 2 WASHINGTON - The 8th annual Worthington Classic hosted by Gallaudet University had a thrilling conclusion as the host Bison went five sets with Messiah College on Saturday evening in the Field House. The visiting Falcons prevailed, as Gallaudet had several chances to win the match in the fourth set before falling; 25-19, 22-25, 19-25, 26-24, 17-15. Gallaudet (9-10) finished the two-day tournament with a 2-2 record. The Bison won their first match with a straight sets win over Allegheny; 25-22, 25-11, 25-20.
Hope College (14-0), the No. 1 ranked team in Division III, did not drop a set en route to claiming the Worthington Classic championship. Senior outside hitter Jenna Grasmeyer was named the tournament's MVP while her teammate Allie Mitchell was one of seven players named to the all-tournament team. Hope defeated DeSales University (13-5) in the championship match by the scores of 25-11, 25-19, 25-16.
The Bison lost the first set to the Falcons, 19-25, but turned the tables over the course of the next two sets to win 25-22 and 25-19. Gallaudet had several chances to close out the Falcons in the fourth set but the Bison were unable to pull out the win, 24-26, and eventually lost in the fifth set, 15-17. The Bison recorded 71 team kills to Messiah's 63 and the Bison added 10 service aces in their first five-set match this season. Senior Kali Frowick (Norfolk, Neb.) led the way with 20 kills, four errors on 59 attempts (.271 attack percentage), 12 digs and two service aces. Senior Julia Wolff (Belleville, Ontario) was close behind with 16 kills, one error on 21 attempts (.714) while junior Danielle Morris (St. Louis, Mich.) tallied 12 kills and 16 digs and made three service aces. Freshman Kylene Etkie (Austin, Texas) matched Morris with a team best three service aces. Junior TraciAnn Hoglind (Fishers, Ind.) had a career-high 67 assists in the loss.
In the match against the Gators, Frowick racked up another double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Darriyan Thomas (Vallejo, Calif.) played well at libero digging up 19 balls awhile Hoglind passed out 40 assists and served up three service aces. Sophomore Giuletta Maucere (Frederick, Md.) and Wolff (two block assists) had seven kills each. Frowick was Gallaudet's selection to the all-tournament team.
Gallaudet has won the Worthington Classic, named in honor of legendary Gallaudet coach Peg Worthington, on three occasions.
The Bison will travel to non-conference opponent Hood College on Thursday, Oct. 2, for a non-conference match at 7 p.m.
Also see:
All-Tournament Team
MVP: Jenna Grasmeyer (Hope)
Allie Mitchell (Hope)
Lisa Wallitsch (DeSales)
Kali Frowick (Gallaudet)
Cassidie Watson (Marymount)
Jane Underman (Messiah)
Stefanie Lang (Olivet)
