WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University men's volleyball team split its home tri-match here Saturday on Padden Court in the Field House.

The Bison picked up a big 3-0 United East conference win over Pratt Institute to begin the day as GU sweep the Cannoneers 25-17, 25-14, 25-21. Later in the afternoon, Gallaudet tangled with a deep and tall Penn State Behrend squad and lost in straights sets by the score of 13-25, 18-25, 21-25.

In between the two Gallaudet matches, Penn St.-Behrend (16-5) defeated Pratt (5-10, 2-2 United East) in a non-conference match that the Lions won in straight sets; 25-16, 25-15, 25-14.

Gallaudet (5-13, 2-1 United East) started off strong against Pratt and posted positive hitting percentages in each set win. The Bison served up seven service aces and made six blocks against the Cannoneers.

Sophomore outside hitter Zachary Bippus (Fishers, Ind.) led the way with 15 kills and 11 digs for the double-double. Bippus added two block assists and served up one ace. Sophomore libero Elian Zfati (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made a season best 21 digs while sophomore setter Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.) passed out 33 assists and came up with 11 digs for the double-double.

Sophomore middle hitter Tyler Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.) and first-year middle hitter John McCabe (Norwalk, Conn.) provided a strong 1-2 punch at the net for the buff and blue. Wascher recorded eight kills with a .400 hitting percentage and made three blocks (one solo) while McCabe had a career game with seven kills on 14 swings and three errors (.286 hitting percentage) and matched Wascher with three blocks (two solo).

Sophomore outside hitter Kodi Lee (Lehi, Utah) led the Bison with three service aces and added eight digs while first-year outside hitter Pax Holcomb (Cheverly, Md.) made a career best nine digs.

Pratt was led by Griffin Benkovszky's 27 assists and 15 digs while Max Wang led the Cannoneers with eight kills.

Penn St.-Behrend came out on fire against Gallaudet as the Lions posted a .464 hitting percentage in the first set as they slammed down 15 kills on 28 swings and only had two errors.

The Lions played 12 players against the Bison as Penn St.-Behrend's Jack Wilcox led the way with 10 kills, 10 digs, three blocks and one ace.

GU was active upfront with seven blocks against the Lions as Wascher, McCabe and first year Tahoe Herzig-Wilcox (Frederick, Md.) led the way with three each. McCabe and Herzig-Wilcox set career highs for blocks in a match.

Bippus was held to seven kills, eight digs and two blocks while Holcomb passed out 16 assists and Zfati came up with 13 digs in the loss.

UP NEXT
GU will hit the road twice next week for conference games in the state of Pennsylvania. The Bison will travel to Wilson College (9-7, 1-1 United East) on Tuesday, March 10, for a 7 p.m. contest in Chambersburg, Pa.