WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team faced a pair of traditionally strong regional programs Saturday as the Bison concluded play at their annual Worthington Classic against the University of Mount Union and Eastern University in the Field House.
Gallaudet met the Purple Raiders from Mount Union for the first time and lost in straight sets, 22-25, 11-25, 19-25, in the morning before Eastern closed out the two-day tournament with a 22-25, 19-25, 18-25 decision over the Bison.
The Bison started quickly against Mount Union and jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the opening set. Gallaudet still held a 19-18 lead late before the Purple Raiders scored seven of the final 10 points to take the set, 22-25.
Sophomore middle hitter
Kayla Debrow (Jacksonville, Fla.) turned in a strong performance with six kills on 10 attempts and only one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Debrow added a career-high eight blocks (one solo) to best her previous best mark of six blocks against UC Santa Cruz at last year's Worthington Classic (Sept. 20, 2025). Senior outside hitter
Brielle Worley (Amarillo, Texas) had eight kills and four service aces, while first-year libero
Tori Harris (Stockbridge, Ga.) made nine digs.
Mount Union sophomore outside hitter Zoe Sweigart led the Purple Raiders with 13 kills, while senior opposite Molly McKee added eight kills and hit .333. Senior libero Averi Haley made a match-high 17 digs.
Later in the day, Gallaudet closed out the Worthington Classic against Eastern. The Bison (7-5) again came out strong and built a 15-11 lead in the opening set before extending the advantage to 16-12. The Eagles (5-6) answered with four straight points to knot the set at 16 and eventually took the frame by the same 22-25 margin that the Purple Raiders tallied against the Bison.
Worley led Gallaudet with 14 kills, 12 digs and two service aces for a double-double. Graduate student middle hitter
Bri Eilderts (Omaha, Neb.) added four kills and four blocks, while Debrow recorded four kills, four blocks (one solo). First-year setter
Gracie Gloster (Clark, N.J.) passed out 23 assists and added a career-high five blocks.
Eastern first-year outside hitter Piper Xeller led all players with 12 kills, while senior outside hitter Alexis Standford had 10 kills and hit .308. Sophomore setter Sarah Furey added seven kills, 18 assists and 10 digs as the Eagles hit .236 as a team.
Elsewhere at the Worthington Classic, Mount Union completed a perfect 3-0 weekend with a straight-set victory over Arcadia University, 25-22, 25-23, 26-24. The Purple Raiders (14-2) produced the comeback of the tournament in the third set when they trailed 17-24 before scoring nine consecutive points to win, 26-24, and complete the sweep.
Eastern also swept Arcadia (10-4) on Saturday, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23.
BISON TRACKS
- This was Gallaudet's first appearance against Eastern since 2022.
- Since 1997, GU is now 3-12 all-time against Eastern.
- Mount Union faced Arcadia for the first time since 2016.
- The Purple Raiders and Eagles last met in 2003.
- Eastern is 22-3 against Arcadia since 1991.
UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns to the Field House on Wednesday, Sept. 30, when the Bison host Marymount (Va.) University (5-7) at 7 p.m.
