Washington, D.C. (September 22, 2023) - The DeSales University volleyball team opened the Worthington Classic at Gallaudet University with two wins on day one of the tournament.

Match #1 (W/3-0 vs. Pratt Institute)
The Bulldogs dominated this one hitting .400 as a team for the match earning a 25-10, 25-11, 25-15 win in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Senior Delanie Zohler led the way with nine kills hitting .444 for the match and first-year Mackenzie Fox added seven kills, hitting .600 in the win.

Senior Emma Notarfrancesco had 14 digs and senior Grace Grandinetti finished with a team-high 16 assists in the win.

Match #2 (W/3-1 vs. Cedar Crest College)
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead with a 25-17 win in the opening set before the Falcons evened the match with win in set two, 25-19 as DSU hurt themselves with seven hitting errors in the second set.

DeSales took control from there hitting .250 in the third set to take a 2-1 lead after a 25-14 win and recorded 16 kills and just one error for a .500 hitting percentage in the third set to close out the match, 25-20.

Zohler led the way again with 16 kills, hitting .300 and adding 11 digs. Seniors Paige Lewis and Mykenah Calder each had 10 kills, while Lewis added four blocks and Calder had nine digs. Junior Samantha Worontzoff finished with nine kills and five blocks.

Sophomore Peyton Porterfield led the team with 19 assists and Grandinetti added 18 helpers. Notarfrancesco finished with 18 digs.

It is the 24th straight win for DeSales vs. Cedar Crest as the Bulldogs have never lost to the Falcons in the all-time series. This was the first meeting since the 2007 season.

DSU is back in action tomorrow when they take on Gallaudet University first and an opponent TBA in the second match.