WASHINGTON – It was a festive and joyous afternoon in the Field House on the campus of Gallaudet University as the Bison men's volleyball program celebrated their graduating senior class and picked up two wins in the process.

Gallaudet (8-14, 4-2 United East) swept Saint Elizabeth University and Penn State Schuylkill in straight sets, 3-0, as the Bison picked up a key United East win to improve their rank in the conference standings. GU is currently fourth with two conference matches left on its regular-season schedule.

Gallaudet dispatched the Eagles from Saint Elizabeth by the scores of 25-15, 25-20, 25-18 to begin the day and to earn a United East win. The Eagles (2-13, 0-6 United East) turned around and played a five-set match with the Lions and won, 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 26-24, 22-25, 15-9).

Penn St.-Schuylkill (2-12) brought a six-player team to the nation's capital and the Lions were gassed when they took the court against the Bison in a very warm and uncomfortable Field House. GU ran circles around the overmatched team and won easily 25-16, 25-13, 25-17.

Before the start of the first match the Bison men's volleyball team and Athletics Department paid tribute to the three graduating seniors on the GU team in Kodi Lee (Lehi, Utah), Seth Lopez (Jackson Township, N.J.) and Callum Paterson (Mississauga, Canada). While the trio are listed as sophomore on the roster, since this is their second year on the team, they are graduating this May.
The trio started the Saint Elizabeth match and Lee tallied five kills, nine digs and one ace while Lopez served up his first ace this season and only his second in his career. Paterson made a career-high 23 digs as he played libero for the Bison.

Sophomore outside hitter Zachary Bippus (Fishers, Ind.) led the Bison with 12 kills, nine digs, three aces and two blocks against the Eagles. Sophomore setter Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.) passed out 29 assists and served up two aces. First-year middle hitter John McCabe (Norwalk, Conn.) finished with a career best nine kills and three blocks in the win.

Bippus posted a second straight 12-kill match and three blocks (one solo) against the Lions while Holcomb had a pedestrian 29 assists. Sophomore middle hitter Tyler Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.) was flying around and jumping out of the building with several boom spikes. Wascher finished with eight kills and three blocks.

There were several firsts as first-year players Keanu Herzig-Wilcox (Frederick, Md.) and Jevon Burns (Santa Fe, N.M.) registered their first collegiate kills.

GU finished the match against Penn St.-Schuylkill with a program best .380 hitting percentage as the Bison tallied 39 kills on 79 swings and only nine errors.

BISON TRACKS

• Lee added five kills and three aces against Penn St.-Schuylkill
• Gallaudet played all 14 players in uniform on Saturday, including 13 in the final match
• The Bison had 11 service aces against the Lions to tie the season-high mark for the third time
• GU is now 5-6 at home this season

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will travel to Lancaster, Pa., this Wednesday, March 25, for a 7 p.m. conference match at Lancaster Bible College (12-10, 5-0 United East). The Chargers are the top team in the United East standings.