WASHINGTON – Senior outside hitter
Brielle Worley (Amarillo, Texas) continued her torrid start to the season with a career-high 32 kills Wednesday night as the Gallaudet University women's volleyball team competed against The Catholic University of America in a four-set setback at Franny Murray Court.
Gallaudet (7-2) won the opening set before Catholic (4-6) rallied to take the next three for a 3-1 victory, 25-22, 19-25, 17-25, 25-27.
Worley was dominant throughout the match as she put down 32 kills on 57 swings with only seven errors for a .439 hitting percentage. She added 10 digs and one block (solo) to finish with a match-high 33 points.
Worley entered Wednesday ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III in kills per set (5.46) and points per set (6.20). She was also ranked 11th nationally in attacks per set and 44th in hitting percentage. The 32 kills established a new career high for Worley just two days after she set the previous mark with 31 kills against Penn St.-Abington. Worley has totaled 63 kills over Gallaudet's last two matches and has reached 30 kills in back-to-back matches for the first time in her collegiate career.
The Bison came out strong in the opening set and hit .216 with 16 kills to take a 25-22 decision. Catholic responded in the second and third sets, 19-25 and 17-25, respectively, to take a 2-1 match lead.
Gallaudet fought to extend the match in a tightly contested fourth set. The two teams battled through five ties and two lead changes before the Cardinals escaped with a 25-27 victory to close out the match.
Graduate student middle hitter
Bri Eilderts (Omaha, Neb.) turned in an efficient offensive performance with eight kills and only three errors on 18 attempts for a .278 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter
Jada Zarembka (Riverside, Calif.) added eight kills, 12 digs, two service aces and two blocks.
First-year setter
Gracie Gloster (Clark, N.J.) passed out a match-high 43 assists, while first-year libero
Tori Harris (Stockbridge, Ga.) made 11 digs. Sophomore middle hitter
Kayla Debrow (Jacksonville, Fla.) recorded two solo blocks.
Catholic hit .229 as a team and received a balanced offensive effort which included 13 service aces. Junior outside hitter Julia Raab led the Cardinals with 13 kills, while freshman middle blocker Kate Kozlowski added eight kills and hit .375.
BISON TRACKS
- Worley has 63 kills in nine sets over Gallaudet's last two matches, an average of 7.00 kills per set.
- Worley now has 185 kills through 32 sets this season for an average of 5.78 kills per set, up from the NCAA Division III-leading 5.46 average she carried into Wednesday's match.
- Wednesday's setback snapped Gallaudet's three-match winning streak against Catholic.
- The Bison had won each of the previous three meetings by a 3-1 score.
UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns home to host its annual Worthington Classic on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, as the Bison welcome Arcadia University, Eastern University and the University of Mount Union to the Field House. Gallaudet opens the tournament Friday at 6 p.m. against Arcadia followed by Eastern and Mount Union.
