WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team successfully defended its United East Conference championship here Saturday evening on Padden Court in the Field House before raucous crowd of 625. The top-seed Bison defeated No. 2 seed Lancaster Bible College, 3-0, to earn the United East automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship tournament, which begins next Thursday. 

Gallaudet (30-4) earns its second straight United East championship and 10th overall since it joined the conference in 2010. The Bison won seven consecutive titles upon entering the conference. This was the first conference championship in the Field House in a decade as it was last held here in 2014. Gallaudet is now 10-1 all-time in United East/North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championship matches.

GU posts the first back-to-back 30-win seasons under the direction of Coach Lynn Ray Boren during his 19-year tenure after the Bison went 31-4 last year.

This was the first time Gallaudet faced Lancaster Bible College in the women's volleyball championship. GU is now 5-0 all-time against the Chargers in the conference tournament and 16-2 overall. This was LBC's second conference championship appearance and first since 2018. 

Gallaudet sophomore outside hitter Brielle Worley (Amarillo, Texas) was named the 2024 United East Women's Volleyball Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) after a 24-kill performance (.475 hitting percentage) against the Chargers. Worley finished the United East tournament with 59 kills in three matches. 

The Bison rolled in the first two sets with 25-16 and 25-12 wins. The Chargers pushed the Bison in the third set before GU won, 26-24. Worley had 11 of her 24 kills in the third set.

Junior middle hitter Citrine Lummer (Frederick, Md.) had 10 kills and senior opposite Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) had seven. Junior setter Ella Gamble (Cullowhee, N.C.) contributed 38 assists and two service aces. Junior libero Nicole Hicks (Corona, Calif.) led the team with 17 digs, followed closely by Lummer with 13 and Worley (12). Hicks served up two of the team's four aces, a new season-low mark, due to the solid receiving done by the Chargers. 
 
Senior middle hitter Anya Pothorski (Columbua, Ohio) and sophomore middle hitter Jada Zarembka (Riverside, Calif.) had four blocks each on defense.

The story of the match was attack percentage; Gallaudet had .371, while Lancaster Bible College had .034. Nonetheless, the Chargers severely tested the Bison in the third set, clawing back from a 22-18 deficit to take the lead at 24-22. Gallaudet took the last four points on two kills by Worley, a block by Perry and Pothorski, and an attack error by LBC.
 
The Chargers (25-7) were paced by Lea Sareyka with eight kills and Jessica Fletcher with seven. Madison Reap had three service aces and Sheyenne King had three blocks.

Gallaudet will take a 22-match winning streak into the NCAA tournament. The Bison finished the home schedule with a perfect 17-0 record. 

UP NEXT
The NCAA will announce the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship field on Monday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. (Eastern) on their website, NCAA.com. 

Gallaudet in United East/NEAC Championship Matches
2024: W, 3-0 vs. Lancaster Bible (@Gallaudet)
2023: W, 3-1 vs. Cedar Crest (@Cedar Crest)
2021: W, 3-0 vs. Morrisville St. (@Penn St.-Berks)
2017: L, 3-1 vs. Morrisville St. (@Penn St.-Berks)
2016: W, 3-1 vs. SUNY Poly (@SUNY Poly)
2015: W, 3-1 vs. SUNY Poly (@SUNY Poly)
2014: W, 3-0 vs. Penn St.-Berks (@Gallaudet)
2013: W, 3-0 vs. SUNY Poly (@Gallaudet)
2012: W, 3-0 vs. Keuka (@Gallaudet)
2011: W, 3-2 vs. Penn St.-Berks (@Penn St.-Berks)
2010: W, 3-1 vs. Penn St.-Berks (@Keuka)

Gallaudet vs. Lancaster Bible in the United East/NEAC Tournament
2024: W, 3-0 in Final (@Gallaudet)
2023: W, 3-0 in Semifinals "Volt Division Final" - (@Gallaudet)
2017: W, 3-1 in Quarterfinals (@Gallaudet)
2015: W, 3-0 in Quarterfinals (@SUNY Poly)
2012: W, 3-0 in Semifinals (@Gallaudet)