WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team lost a marathon of a match here Friday night, 3-2, against SUNY Polytechnic Institute in a battle for first place in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) in front of a loud and enthusiastic homecoming crowd. Three of the five sets were within two points as GU won the first and third sets; 28-26, 21-25, 29-27, 18-25, 14-16.

The match marked record numbers for the Bison (17-10, 8-2 NEAC) this season in kills (61), attack attempts (198), assists (59), and digs (120). Sophomore outside hitter Darriyan Thomas (Vallejo, Calif.) led the Bison with 27 kills and 24 digs, her 13th double-double of the season. Freshman Raelyn Fuechtmann (South St. Paul, Minn.) led the team with a season-high 32 digs. Senior setter TraciAnn Hoglind (Fishers, Ind.) had 57 assists in the game, her second highest total this season (58 vs. FDU-Florham).

Gallaudet had to play catch-up with SUNY Poly (20-3, 9-1 NEAC) in the first set after falling behind 5-0 early. Thomas knotted the game at 19 on a big spike. The Bison played neck-and-neck, never letting the Wildcats get more than a two-point lead. A strong block by senior Danielle Morris (St. Louis, Mich.) at 27-26 gave the Bison the fuel to take the set on the next point.

GU continued its trend of starting slow as SUNY Poly jumped out to a 5-2 lead and dropped the set 21-25. In the third set, the Wildcats scored six of the first seven points before GU started to chip away at the lead. Senior Molly Perkins (Apple Valley, Minn.) tied the set, 21-21, on a big kill as the two teams battled to the end. Fuechtmann served up an ace and Morris knocked down a kill on the final two points to take the set 29-27.

The fourth set was a struggle for the Bison as the Wildcats won 18-25. GU started the final set with an early 4-1 advantage, capitalizing on Wildcat errors, before SUNY Poly came back. A key block by junior Jasmine Jeter (Noblesville, Ind.) and Thomas tied the score at 12. Both teams were relentless but two Bison errors cost them the final two points, 14-16, to end the lengthy match.

Morrisville State College and SUNY Cobleskill were also in attendance for the NEAC Crossover weekend as they faced-off on Court 2. Morrisville won in straight sets; 25-13, 25-20, 25-18.

BISON TRACKS

• The match took two hours and 26 minutes
• Perkins add 11 kills, while Morris and freshman Tessa Lewis (Frederick, Md.) each added 10
• Morris and Hoglind also added 15 and 14 digs, respectively
• Senior Kate Fetzer (Noblesville, Ind.) added 12 digs and two service aces
• Three other Bison tallied two service aces in the match including Morris, Fuetchmann and sophomore Kylene Etkie (Austin, Texas) 

UP NEXT
The Bison will continue the NEAC Crossover weekend tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 24) starting at 10 a.m. against Morrisville St. on Court 1. After the conclusion of that match the Bison will play SUNY Cobleskill at noon.