WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team locked up the top seed in the upcoming United East Conference - Volt Division tournament after the Bison defeated Penn St.-Berks in straight sets on Saturday in the Field House.

Gallaudet (27-3, 6-0 United East) went undefeated in Volt Division play and will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament that begins on Nov. 4. GU receives a first-round bye and will host a Volt Division semifinal on Tuesday, Nov 7, at 7 p.m. in the Field House.

The Bison picked up their 12th straight win later on Saturday with a 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 win over Roanoke College (14-9). GU has gone 24-1 in its last 25 matches after it started the season 3-2. 

In the match against the Nittany Lions (6-16, 2-3 United) the Bison leaned on its service game as the buff and blue recorded 15 aces against Penn St.-Berks en route to a 25-10, 25-17, 25-23 win. 

Junior opposite Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) tallied 11 kills and three blocks while senior Natalie Clayberg (Pella, Iowa) added nine kills and 17 digs. Junior setter Ella Gamble (Cullowhee, N.C.) passed out 31 assists and served up six aces while sophomore Gisella Visco (Riverside, Calif.) added three aces. 

Roanoke made quick work of Penn St.-Berks in the second match as the Maroons won in straight sets; 25-12, 25-10, 25-17, in a match that took 55 minutes.

Perry and sophomore Citrine Lummer (Frederick, Md.) led the Bison with 11 kills each against Roanoke in the third and final match of the day. Clayberg tallied 10 kills, eight digs and three blocks while Gamble passed out 33 assists and served up five aces. Visco and senior Adele Daniels (Frederick, Md.) added four aces each as GU finished with 14 team aces and 10 blocks against the Maroons. Junior Anya Pothorski (Columbus, Ohio) led the Bison with six blocks (two solo). 

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will wrap up its regular-season schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at home against Shenandoah University (8-17) at 6:30 p.m. in the Field House on Padden Court.