Women’s volleyball season ends with loss to nationally ranked Wesleyan University 

The Gallaudet University women’s volleyball team’s magical season came to an end yesterday afternoon. They lost to Wesleyan University, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21 in the first round of the NCAA Division III regional tournament at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The team’s final record of 31-4 and win percentage of .885 was its best ever under 18th-year coach Lynn Ray Boren.  

Senior outside hitter Natalie Clayberg had 15 kills and nine digs, while junior Cassidy Perry had 14. Junior setter Ella Gamble had 32 assists, four service aces, including three in the first set, and 10 digs. Senior libero Leila Sicoli led the team with 17 digs.  

Wesleyan, the first seed in this region and #16 nationally, was led by Bella Ahearn, who had 12 kills. The team as a whole amassed nine blocks, which ultimately provided their margin of victory.  

Behind 10-3 in the first set, Gallaudet fought back, bolstered by Gamble’s three service aces. They fell behind again, 19-11, but mounted a rally to narrow the margin to one point, 23-22, before dropping the last two points. The second and third sets proceeded similarly, with the Bison losing ground, then clawing back time and again.  

Wesleyan, 23-1 and riding a 12-match winning streak, faces Christopher Newport University today (November 17) at 4:30 p.m. Middlebury College plays host school Johns Hopkins University at 7 p.m. The winners of these matches will play for the regional championship tomorrow (November 18) at 5 p.m. The complete tournament bracket, showing all four regions, is at https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/volleyball-women/d3/2023.  

Congratulations to the Bison on a phenomenal season!