ERIE, Pa. – It was a dramatic reverse sweep victory for the Gallaudet University men's volleyball team here Sunday as the Bison picked up their first win of the season. GU defeated Bethany (W.Va.) College, 3-2, as the buff and blue won the final three sets; 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-10.

This was Gallaudet's first win since March 2, 2013, when GU defeated Cazenovia College, 3-1, in Aurora, N.Y., on the campus of Wells College. Unfortunately, both of those schools mentioned are now closed, Cazenovia in 2023 and Wells the following year. This is Gallaudet's first varsity season back since that 2013 season. The GU win on Sunday snapped a 19-match losing streak dating back to the end of the 2013 season.

"With every new program that starts, it can take some time for things to get rolling," said Gallaudet men's volleyball interim head coach Ben Campman. "It's nice to finally show that even though this is a first-year program, we have a lot of great athletes. You can see how many players on our team contributed. I am really proud of all of them."

GU trailed 14-11 to Bethany in the first set but went on a six-point run and led 17-4 before Bethany tied the set at 18 apiece. Bethany, also nicknamed the Bison, scored points on four of the final five points to win 25-22.

The second set was another close one between two evenly match Bison teams. Bethany jumped out to an early lead but Gallaudet was able to tie the set five different times and even held a 23-22 lead late. Bethany responded with three straight points, with two coming on service aces, to win the set, 25-23.

"Falling behind 0-2 can make a lot of teams start thinking about the next match, but out guys gave it their all, in all five sets," said Campman. "In each match we can see our improvements as individuals and as a team. So, to put it all together feels really good."

Gallaudet began its comeback in the third set with an early 8-3 lead. GU stretched that margin to eight, 12-4, and slowly pulled away from Bethany to win 25-20.

The fourth set was another highly contested set between the two Bison teams. No team led by more than three points in this set. Gallaudet was able to score five of the last seven points to secure the 25-22 set win to force a fifth and decisive set.

For the fourth time in the match GU scored the first point of a set. After Bethany knotted the set at 5-5 the GU Bison scored four straight points to take a 9-5 lead. Bethany responded but GU answered with three straight points to push its lead to 12-7. Gallaudet scored three of the final four points to win 15-10.

First-year outside hitter Ben Beyer (Janesville, Wis.) led GU with 14 kills, seven digs and two blocks. First-year opposite Zachary Bippus (Fishers, Ind.) knocked down 12 kills and made a team-high four blocks. First-year outside hitter Kodi Lee (Lehi, Utah) was the third GU Bison in double digits for kills with 10 and eight digs. First-year setter Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.) passed out 36 assists and made 14 digs. First-year libero Elian Zfati (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made a match-high 21 digs. First year Nicholas Barron (Faribault, Minn.) added four blocks.

Bethany (1-9), a second-year program, was led by Riley Burdett's 17 kills and 13 digs, Logan Mills' 38 assists and 16 digs and Rylan Trapp's eight blocks.

In the second match of the day, Gallaudet lost in straight sets to the host Penn State Behrend 11-25, 13-25, 16-25 in the Junker Center Gym.

The Bison ran out of steam in the second match of the day against the more-experienced Lions (6-10). Bippus led GU with seven kills while Holcomb passed out 14 helpers and made eight digs.

Penn St.-Behrend was led offensively by Joseph Sciscio and Lewis Rhodes with six kills each in the win.

Gallaudet came away with a 1-1 split at the Sunday tri-match and Coach Campman looks ahead to the rest of the season and its possibilities.

"We are excited for all the coming games where we can show how bright the future of this program can be."

UP NEXT
GU will begin United East conference play this week when the Bison travel to University of Valley Forge (6-3) on Wednesday, Feb. 26, for a 7 p.m. night match.