WASHINGTON - For the first two sets the Gallaudet University men's volleyball team was right there with Marymount (Va.) University in a non-conference match here Wednesday evening in the Field House. The visiting Saints held on to win those opening sets by the same 25-20 score and closed things out in the third, 25-10, to earn the 3-0 sweep of the Bison.

Gallaudet (3-9) posted a strong hitting percentage of .318 in the first set and tallied a sideout rate of 50 percent or higher in the first and second sets against the Saints. GU had no attack errors in the first set but made six errors in each subsequent sets. The Bison struggled against Marymount's service game as the visitors served up eight aces and many receptions made by the Bison went directly back over the net for an easy kill by the Saints. 

The Bison were led offensively by sophomore outside hitter Zachary Bippus (Fishers, Ind.) with eight kills while fellow sophomore middle hitter Tyler Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.) led the team with four blocks and three aces. Sophomore setter Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.) passed out 15 assists and made five digs in the loss. 

Marymount (9-7) played 18 different players in the straight-set victory. Sophomore outside hitter Ethan Li led the Saints with eight kills as he recorded six of them in the first set. Senior setter Diego Pena finished with 32 assists and racked up 18 assists in the first set. Pena added a match-high nine digs and four aces in the win.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will hit the road and travel to New York this weekend to participate in a tri-match hosted by Bard College and includes Curry College from Milton, Mass. GU will face Curry (6-8) on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. followed by a match against the host Raptors of Bard (7-9) at 4 p.m.