Wheeling, W.Va.– In front of a raucous crowd at the Alma Grace McDonough Center Saturday night, the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals claimed their second straight Atlantic Region title topping the California (PA) Vulcans in four sets, 3-1, by scores of 25-18, 25-16, 19-25 and 25-16.

Allissa Ware had a big night for the Cardinals with 20 kills while Jenna Pew added nine. Makenzie Ripley had 26 digs to lead the Jesuit defense.
 
Wheeling Jesuit jumped out to a 4-0 lead before California answered, and the lead grew to seven at 9-2 before the Vulcans called a timeout to calm their nerves. The Cardinals continued to play at their pace, extending the lead to as many as nine points, 14-5.
 
The Vulcans cut the lead to three at 18-15, before Jesuit halted the run to go back up by five at 20-15, forcing another Vulcan timeout. California brought the set within five once again, 23-18, but the Cardinals answered and closed out the set 25-18 on a Jenna Pew kill from Madison Strall.
 
The Cardinals took an early lead in the second frame before California answered and established their first lead of the match at 6-5. The lead was short lived as Wheeling countered with a four point run and did not relinquish. The Vulcans attempted a comeback, but the Cardinals closed the set on a 5-0 run capped a by a Jenna Pew service ace for a 2-0 match advantage, 25-16.
 
Wheeling opened the third set 2-0 before Cal U tied things up at nine apiece. The Vulcans rattled-off three points for a 12-9 lead, prompting a Jesuit timeout. The Cardinals regrouped to tie the match at 14, but the Vulcans built a six point and held on to win the third set 25-19 on a Meghan Franz kill.
 
Another quick start for the Cardinals set the tone for the final frame. WJU jumped out to a 5-0 lead before an Cal's Abbey Freund kill floored the Vulcans first point. Kelly Fromknecht had the kill and made it 8-5, but the Cardinals made a run to push the lead seven at 14-7. A pair of well place shots by Allissa Ware and Corrin Early began a run that extended Cardinal lead to 20-10. California cut the lead to 21-13 forcing a Wheeling Jesuit timeout. The Cardinals regrouped to take control of the set and finish it out 25-16, claiming the match 3-1.
 
California was led in the match offensively by Brandy Harris and Kelly Fromknecht who each registered 10 kills. Julia Muzy was effective off the bench with eight kills. Molly Delaney led the Vulcans with 22 digs defensively. California concludes the season 30-8.
  
Wheeling Jesuit improves to 38-2 and advances to the NCAA National Quarter-Final for the second straight year. They will face the winners of the South Region, the University of Tampa, on Thursday, December 6 at 8:30 pm. 

WVIAC Release

Wheeling Jesuit Advances To Elite Eight

WHEELING, W. Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team earned its second straight trip to the Elite Eight by knocking off California (Pa.) Saturday evening by a 3-1 score.

Set scores were 25-18, 25-16, 19-25, 25-16.

Allissa Ware powered home a match-high 20 kills for the Cardinals. Jenna Pew had a spectacular all-around match with 27 assists, nine kills and seven digs. Madison Strall amassed 23 assists and 13 digs. Ware picked up a double-double by adding 11 digs. Makenzie Ripley led the defensive attack with 26 digs while Corrin Early totaled 13. At the net, Ashley Remlinger assisted on five blocks. Pew and Strall were in on three blocks apiece.

Collectively, the Cardinals (38-2) registered 58 kills en route to a .288 attack percentage while limiting the Vulcans to a .199 attack percentage. WJU had 75 digs and totaled eight blocks. The Cardinals had four aces to just one by the No. 3 seed.

In the first set, the Cardinals struck early and often en route to a 7-1 lead. During the spurt, Ware had a kill, Remlinger had a pair and Early had an ace. WJU pushed the margin to nine at 14-5 on a kill from Early. Up 18-15, two offensive points and two miscues by California (Pa.) gave the Cardinals an insurmountable lead.

WJU trailed 6-5 in the second frame, but quickly got back into the lead after an error by the Vulcans and two kills by Early. The Cardinals continued to thrive, extending the lead to five on a Remlinger kill off a pass from Strall. With the score at 20-16, Pew's kill jump started a 5-0 run to secure the second set victory.

After dropping the third set, WJU started quickly and was ahead 4-0, forcing a time-out by the Vulcans. The Cardinals pushed the lead to 5-0 before California (Pa.) got on the board. The Vulcans pulled within three at 7-4, but WJU responded with a 7-3 run to take a 14-7 advantage. The Cardinals made it 20-10 after a service error by the Vulcans. WJU was never seriously challenged the rest of the match. Ware's kill made it 24-15 and the Cardinals secured the win on a California (Pa.) service error.

The Cardinals will square off against Tampa on Dec. 6 at 8:30 p.m. in the last national quarterfinal match of the day. The Elite Eight will be held in Pensacola, Fla.

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