WASHINGTON - It took a set for the Gallaudet University women's volleyball team to settle in and get into system against Lancaster Bible College here Wednesday night before a raucous crowd in the Field House. It was a pivotal United East Conference match between the last two unbeaten teams entering today's match.

Gallaudet (24-4, 7-0 United East) fought through a tight first set, 25-19, before the Bison rolled in the second set, 25-10, and closed things out with a 25-21 third-set victory to complete the 3-0 sweep over Lancaster Bible (18-5, 5-1 United East).

The win clinched a playoff berth for Gallaudet, the defending United East champions, into the 2024 conference tournament that will be held Nov. 6-16.

GU still the No. 1 team in NCAA Division III for service aces added 10 more to its season total (360). Junior setter Ella Gamble (Cullowhee, N.C.) led the way with four aces as she paces all of Division III for aces by an individual now with 107 this season. Junior outside hitter Citrine Lummer (Frederick, Md.) and sophomore defensive specialist Ashlene Etkie (Austin, Texas) tallied three aces each. Gamble finished the game with 35 assists, Lummer added 15 digs and eight kills and Etkie came up with 12 digs.

Sophomore outside hitter Brielle Worley (Amarillo, Texas) led all hitters with 17 kills on 41 swings and three errors (.341 hitting percentage). Worley is No. 1 in Division III for kills (476) and points (539).

Senior opposite Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) chipped in seven kills while junior libero Nicole Hicks (Corona, Calif.) made a team-high 17 digs.

Lancaster was paced by Leah Helman's 17 digs and Jessica Fletcher's seven kills in the loss.

UP NEXT
GU will travel to Cairn University (14-4, 6-1 United East) this Friday, Oct. 25, for a 7 p.m. conference match. This will be Gallaudet's first appearance against the Highlanders.