Gallaudet Rallies Past Gophers for 3-2 Win

TOWSON, Md. - Visiting Gallaudet University rallied from a 2-1 deficit to down Goucher College 3-2 in non-conference women's volleyball at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center Wednesday evening.  Set scores were 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-8.

• Goucher (4-8) used five straight points to take an 8-4 lead on a kill by Elizabeth Bobo (Milford, Pa. / Delaware Valley).
• Trailing 15-11, the Bison (7-10) used a 7-2 run to take an 19-17 lead on a Gopher setting error.
• Goucher trailed 23-20 when it rattled off three straight points, with a Neli La Court Ruiz (York, Pa. / Northeastern) service ace tying the set.
• After a service error, Kaya Melchor (Mililani, Hawaii / Kamehameha Schools Kapalama) tied the set again with a kill, but the Bison recorded back-to-back points to take a 1-0 lead.

• Goucher trailed 15-12 before an 8-3 spurt put it on top 20-18 following a Gallaudet attack error.
• The guests cut the lead to one before a Bobo kill and a Bison attack error put Goucher up 22-19.
• After a Bison kill, a Bobo kill, an attack error, and a Rachel Chapman (Rochester, N.Y. / Churchville Chili) kill tied the match 1-1.

• With the set tied 9-9, Gallaudet scored four straight points to build a 13-9 lead.
• After a Gopher timeout, the hosts had four straight points of their own, including kills by Eden Adcock (Stratford, N.J. / Sterling Regional) and Melchor.
• The set saw five more ties before Gallaudet eked out a 20-19 lead.
• Goucher closed the set on a 6-1 run that included three kills by Chapman and a Nicole Kovach (New York, N.Y. / Quest to Learn) service ace.

• The Gophers trailed 12-7 before four straight points capped by a Chapman kill pulled them within one.
• Goucher tied the set 13-13 before three straight Gallaudet points.
• The hosts cut the lead to two three times, but the Bison closed out the set on a 7-1 run, including the final four points.

• Gallaudet never trailed in the fifth and the set was tied once, at 1-1.
• The Bison led 5-1 before a Melchor kill stopped a 4-0 GU run.
• Up 8-6, Gallaudet reeled off five straight points to put the set away taking a 13-6 lead.
• Goucher staved off two match points on a Kovach kill and a Bison attack error but a Gopher attack error closed things out.

• Chapman racked up 18 kills, her third straight double-digit kill effort, while Bobo and Melchor each finished with 10 kills.
• Melchor was one of five Gophers in double figures in digs with 21, while Bobo had three service aces and a pair of blocks.
• Kovach posted a team-best 26 digs to go along with her 37 assists, while Ruiz notched 23 digs.
• Kovach's 26 digs are a career best and her sixth double-digit dig effort of the season.
• Necole Stravino (Quezon City, Philippines / Nadua (Va,)) and Alex Coffin (Plymouth, Mass. / Plymouth North) added 17 and 10 digs, respectively.
• Gallaudet hit .170 as a team while the Gophers hit .115.

• Goucher opens Landmark Conference play on Saturday, traveling to Scranton for a conference tri-match.  The Gophers face Elizabethtown at 1:30 pm and the host Royals at 6:30 pm.
• The Gophers return to Decker on Friday, October 8, hosting Gwynedd Mercy in a 7 pm contest.