The Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team remains unbeaten in WVIAC play after winning a four set thriller against Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa. on Wednesday evening. With the win the Cardinals moved to 24-3 overall and 10-0 in the WVIAC while the Griffins fell to 22-10 overall and 8-3 in league play.
An energized Griffin squad overcame a 25-19 first set loss to steal set two by the same score. After a brief break between sets, the Cardinals appeared to regroup as they scurried out to a 10-3 advantage only to have SHU score the next eight out of nine points, tying the game at 11 apiece.
The two teams exchanged the next 10 match points and were still deadlocked at 16-16 when Jesuit went on a 9-5 run which was sparked by Allissa Ware. Jenna Pew delivering the final blow as the Cardinals prevailed in the third set, 25-21.
Leading the match 2-1, the Cardinals suffered an early 7-1 deficit which finally ended on a Seton Hill hitting error. Again, the Cardinals retaliated as Pew held service for eight consecutive points, and during that span, Casey Gates grounded three kills while Angela McNulty added a kill and two block assists with Rachel Caja. From that point, the Cardinals never looked back, securing the final set by a score of 25-18.
Ware led the offense with 16 kills and added 15 digs which was backed by an all-around solid performance by Gates with 10 kills, 11 digs and four block assists. Also performing on both sides of the net were Pew and McNulty. The duo combined for 18 kills, nine kills each, and 5.5 of the team's nine blocks. Pew had a team-high 21 assists, five block assists and a solo block while McNulty tallied four block assists.
Megan Ozarzak and Caja rounded out the offense with six kills and three kills, respectively. Caja added three block assists while Makenzie Ripley anchored the Cardinal defense with a team-leading 37 digs.
Wheeling Jesuit will play host to the University of Pitt-Johnstown for Senior Night on Friday, October 28th beginning at 7:00 p.m.
