ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Gallaudet University women’s volleyball team fell to nationally-ranked Juniata College in straight sets (10-25, 11-25, 13-25) in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Division III tournament Friday afternoon in the Clark Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Gallaudet (21-12) returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016 and had the tough task to face the seventh-ranked team in the country. Juniata (29-1) took the first set 25-10 behind 14 kills and a hitting percentage of .458. GU scored the first two points in the second set and took a 3-1 lead thanks to three kills from sophomore opposite Emily Wright (Auburn, Calif.). The Eagles rallied to knot the set at 4-4 and the Bison hung around for the next several points. Juniata took a 5-9 lead before Gallaudet scored two consecutive points, including another kill from Wright, to cut the margin to two, 7-9. Juniata went on an 11-1 run from there and closed out the second set, 11-25. In the third set, Juniata scored the first six points and never looked back en route to a 13-25 win.
GU recorded 17 kills with 12 credited to Wright and her swings from the outside. Sophomore setter Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) passed out 11 assists and made two blocks. Senior outside hitter Karita Lewis (Frederick, Md.) made eight digs and two kills in her final match as a Bison. Junior libero Mia Upchurch (Austin, Texas) made a team-high nine digs.
Juniata was led by Mackenzie Coley’s nine kills while setter Olivia Foley passed out 36 assists as the Eagles served up eight service aces. Juniata has now won 28 straight matches this season.
The Eagles advance to the second round and will face Babson College (23-7) tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 13) at 2:30 p.m.
BISON TRACKS
- Senior Elina Rubinshteyn (Austin, Texas) recorded two kills and finishes her career with 583 kills
- Lewis concludes her star-studded career with 1,307 kills, 1,200 digs, 155 blocks, 145 service aces and 63 assists
- Upchurch finishes with 1,108 digs and 85 aces
- Giuntoli completes the season with 1,132 assists, 231 digs and 48 aces
- Wright finishes her rookie campaign with 484 kills (.272 hitting percentage)
- GU is 0-5 against Juniata in the NCAA tournament
- The Bison are now 2-13 all-time in the NCAA tournament
UP NEXT
This concludes the 2021 season for the Gallaudet women’s volleyball program.
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