ASHLAND, Va. – The Gallaudet University men's volleyball team celebrated its first win of the 2026 season here Friday evening at the Macon Invitational in Crenshaw Gym. The Bison swept Regent University in straight sets, 3-0, to cap off a two-match day on the campus of Randolph-Macon College.

Gallaudet (1-3) started the evening with a 3-0 loss to Shenandoah University (2-5) from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Hornets stung the Bison with an 18-25, 11-25, 17-25 loss. GU struggled at the net with its attack game as the Bison tallied 22 errors on 79 swings and only mustered up one service ace.

Sophomores Zachary Bippus (Fishers, Ind.) and Tyler Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.) led the offense with seven kills each, while fellow sophomore setter Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.) passed out 20 assists, made two blocks and recorded GU's only ace.

The Bison regrouped and bounced back in a big way against Regent with a 25-21, 25-18, 25-22 victory over the Royals.

Bippus tallied a double-double with match-high marks for kills (10) and digs (15) as fellow sophomore outside hitter Kodi Lee (Austin, Texas) matched the team lead with 10 kills and six digs. Holcomb passed out 28 assists while Wascher tallied seven kills and one block solo. Sophomore Callum Paterson (Mississauga, Canada) made his season debut on Friday and got inserted into the libero role in the third set of the Shenandoah match. Paterson filled the same position against the Royals and finished with 13 digs.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet turns around to play two more ODAC schools tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 31) as the Bison tangle with Bridgewater (Va.) College (1-4) at noon and the host Yellow Jackets (5-1) at 2 p.m.