The following release courtesy of Gallaudet Sports Information Director Sam Atkinson:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team claimed its fourth consecutive North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) title Sunday afternoon as the Bison swept the SUNY Institute of Technology Wildcats in straight sets in the NEAC championship held at the Gallaudet Field House. The 25-11, 25-18, 25-8 victory gives Gallaudet (23-13) an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III Tournament.

Gallaudet came out firing in the championship, as it scored the first four points in the first set and never looked back. SUNYIT (29-5) did their best to mount a comeback but after bringing the score to 16-11, the Bison would score nine consecutive points to close out the set 25-11. In set two, the Wildcats and Bison battled back and forth to gain an advantage. Although the Bison went up 17-10, SUNYIT would not quit as it got within three, 20-17, as the Bison called a timeout. Gallaudet was able to compose itself as it went on to score five of the next six points to close out the match, 25-18. The Bison proved to be too much in the third set, as they cruised to a 25-8 win, including an eight-point stretch where the Bison lead grew from 5-3 to 13-3.

The Bison were led by 2013 NEAC Tournament MVP junior outside hitter Kali Frowick (Norfolk, Neb.) as she tallied the only double-double of the match, recording 17 kills and 17 digs. Frowick posted double-doubles in both of the Bison matches, as she recorded 29 kills and 43 digs in the tournament.

Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Jeter (Noblesville, Ind.) continued her dominant performance in the tournament, as she added 11 kills and six digs in Sunday's win. Senior opposite hitter Lane Peters (Phoenix, Ariz.) ended her last game at the Field House on a high note, as she notched 11 kills, three digs, three block assists and one service ace. Sophomores Molly Perkins (Apple Valley, Minn.) and TraciAnn Hoglind (Fishers, Ind.) were extremely effective on serves as they combined for seven of the eight Bison service aces against the Wildcats. Hoglind also pitched in with a game-high 42 assists. Sophomore libero Kate Fetzer (Noblesville, Ind.) led Gallaudet with 22 digs. Freshman middle hitter Giuletta Maucere (Frederick, Md.) was a force in front of the net as she racked up four blocks (one solo). Junior middle hitter Julia Wolff (Belleville, Ontario) added five kills of her own to help the Bison claim their fourth-straight NEAC championship.

Sophomore Deasisa Goodson (Freeport, N.Y.) and freshman Emma Larson (Miller Place, N.Y.) each had five kills for SUNYIT, while senior Taviot Jackowski (LaFayette, N.Y.) had 17 assists.

Gallaudet holds a 3-9 record in the NCAA tournament, including a 3-0 loss to Randolph-Macon College in the first round of last year's tournament. Tournament pairings and matchup locations will be revealed at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, on the NCAA's online selection show that can be viewed here. The NCAA tournament regionals will be played Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16.