ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The dominant run the Gallaudet University women's volleyball team has been able to put together this season continued here Saturday afternoon as the Bison captured the 2023 United East Conference championship.

Gallaudet (31-3), the Volt Division champion, celebrated an intense 3-1 victory over host Cedar Crest College, the Skye Division champion, to snag the conference automatic bid into the 2023 NCAA Division III women's volleyball tournament next week. This is Gallaudet's ninth conference title since 2010, when it joined the North Eastern Athletic Conference, and the second championship using the United East name. The Bison last won a conference title in 2021.

The Bison and Falcons battled throughout the day and the teams needed extra points in the third and fourth sets. The match looked to be heading for a fifth set but the Bison staved off match point five times in the fourth set. Cedar Crest (16-9) scored five straight points to take a 24-20 lead before GU rallied to knot the set at 24 apiece. The Bison had a chance to win it at 27-26 before the Falcons got a side-out. GU scored the final three points in the fourth set to clinch the match; 25-22, 19-25, 27-25, 31-29  in Lees Gymnasium.

"It was a hard fight for us today. I want to give credit to Cedar Crest, that team fought hard and played amazingly. They were a true challenge for us," said Gallaudet head coach Lynn Ray Boren. "Those last two sets really gave me and the team an emotional boost. We had to make an adjustment in the third set and we responded well. I am just relieved that we won those last two sets. It was a great team effort."

Senior outside hitter Natalie Clayberg (Pella, Iowa) slammed down the final kill off an assist from junior setter Ella Gamble (Cullowhee, N.C.) and a dig from senior outside hitter Adele Daniels (Frederick, Md.). The trio have played a key role in Gallaudet's success as Clayberg and Gamble transferred in to GU and Daniels returned back to the herd for a final season.

Clayberg was selected as the United East Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) after a 22-kill and 16-dig performance for her 13th double-double of the season. Clayberg added three block assists, two assists and two service aces.

"I am really excited [about the MVP award] but it would not be possible without my team. I am really proud of this team," said Clayberg moments after the match on the court. 

Junior opposite Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) tallied 17 kills and five block assists while fellow junior middle hitter Anya Pothorski (Columbus, Ohio) recorded 13 kills and six blocks (one solo). Gamble passed out a season-high 54 assists and added 16 digs, two aces and two kills. Senior libero Leila Sicoli (Austin, Texas) made a match-high 27 digs. Daniels finished the match with 11 digs, five kills, two blocks (one solo) and one ace. 

Cedar Crest was led by Maddison Minyo's 18 kills and 14 digs while Ellise Everett made a match-high 10 blocks (five solos) in the loss.

Gallaudet will take a 16-match win streak into the NCAA tournament next week.

BISON TRACKS

• Gallaudet had 11 team blocks
• Six different Bison recorded an assist
• GU served up six aces in the win
• This was the second time Gallaudet faced Cedar Crest this season, the Bison won the first meeting 3-0 in the Worthington Classic (Sept. 22)
• GU is 4-0 against the Falcons in the last three seasons
• This is Coach Boren's 11th conference title as head coach of Gallaudet, the Bison won twice in the Capital Athletic Conference (2005, '06)

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will next watch the NCAA Division III women's volleyball selections show on Monday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. (Eastern) to find out where they are going next week and who they will face in the tournament.