Box Score WHEELING, W.Va.---One night after defeating Shippensburg University 3-0, the No. 19 ranked Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team was back in action at the Alma Grace McDonough Center, and this time against the only other undefeated team in the WVIAC, Fairmont State University.  The battle of the two unbeaten teams showcased an intense first set, battling back-and-forth to a 26-24 Jesuit win. After the initial set, the Cardinals had no problem securing their 78th consecutive WVIAC victory, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-13).

Jesuit snapped the Falcons 11-game winning streak and improved to 23-2 overall and 10-0 in WVIAC play , while Fairmont fell to 17-6 overall and 5-1 in the league.

The Falcons had no answer for the Cardinals' big three offensive hitters in Jenna Pew, Allissa Ware and Abby Wietrzykowski, not to mention the supporting cast of Ashley Remlinger, Angela McNulty, Rachel Caja, Makenzie Ripley, Corrin Early and Madison Strall.

Pew turned in another all-around performance with a team-best 15 assists, nine kills, six blocks and three digs. Ware and Wietrzykowski each floored a team-high11 kills, and Ware added nine digs. McNulty floored five Kills and Caja pounded out three, while Remlinger, Early and Strall each had one. Remlinger and Caja also added to the defensive play above the net with four and two blocks, respectively. Ripley anchored the defense with 13 digs.

In the opening set, the Falcons flew 2-0 advantage on a pair of tips, and the Cardinals fired back with three points, gaining a 3-2 lead. Jesuit hit another mini-scoring burst to take an 11-6 lead as Pew and Ware grounded kills, and Caja (2), Ware and Strall recorded blocks. The Falcons came flying back with a 6-1 run, to bring the game within one point at 15-14, but a FSU service error and a block by Pew extended the lead back to 16-14. The two teams continued the back-and-forth battle, and eventually Ware pounded out the last two kills for a 26-24 first set victory.

The second set, Wheeling Jesuit controlled the match from the first serve.  Wietrzykowski grounded the first point, and WJU service error tied the set 1-1, but Jesuit proceeded with the next three scores, 4-1, before a WJU hitting error put another point on the board for Fairmont. Pew followed with a kill, and the Cardinals cruised to a 13-7 advantage on a pair of Wietrzykowski kills. Jesuit continued to lead throughout, and Caja ended the set with a kill, 25-16.

In the final set, Wietrzykowski started the scoring and Pew followed suit. A Fairmont ball handling error made it 3-0 and a FSU block gave the Falcons their first point. The Cardinals rolled to a 13-6 advantage, and Early ended the match on a back row attack after McNulty stopped a FSU attack and kept the play running.  Pew was on the assist.

The Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team will be back in WVIAC action on Saturday, October 20 against Davis & Elkins College. The WJU Homecoming Weekend and Senior Day match is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.