Box Score

Watch post-game press conference HERE

Watch Semi-finals via LIVE webcast and get LIVE stats HERE
 
WHEELING, W.Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit volleyball train showed no signs of stopping for West Virginia State Thursday night in the inaugural Mountain East Conference championship quarterfinals, swatting the Yellow Jackets 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-17).
 
The win keeps the Cardinals at a perfect 17-0 in MEC play, and 32-5 overall. WJU now moves on to play Shepherd University in the MEC semi-finals in front of their home crowd at the Alma Grace McDonough Center at 7:30 on Friday, the 22^nd.
 
The game not only marked part of the first volleyball championship event in Mountain East history, but the first time the Cardinals have been able to play the post-season conference tournament in front of their home crowd.
 
"This is a new experience for us in hosting the tournament, and has been wonderful so far," said WJU head coach Christy Benner. "Playing at home, in front of our fans, with the band, and all of our support has been great this year. We've had wonderful, amazing support from our fans. It's great to know we're comfortable, were home, and we'll have that support when we need it."
 
The home crowd certainly helped the Cardinals in the first set, getting out to a quick start, finding gaps in the Yellow Jacket defense, and using their powerful hitters to drill home an early 12-4 lead. WJU went on to win the set 25-7 with 11 kills highlighted by four aces.
 
WJU didn't let off the gas in the second set either, bursting out to a 16-3 lead before putting the set away with another 25-7 victory off 14 kills and three aces.
 
West Virginia State gave the Cardinals their biggest fight in the third set, putting up 17 points, but the Cardinals pulled away comfortably to take the game 25-17 and sweeping the match 3-0.
 
Leading WJU in the stat column was freshman Emma Schleucher who had eight kills, fellow freshman (and MEC Freshman of the Year recipient) Haley Kindall who had 6 kills, and Makenzie Ripley led the Cardinals defensively with 18 kills.
 
Coach Benner said she was able to use the match to prepare her young players to perform on the post-season stage. "We have a young team. We wanted to make sure that they know that when it's tournament time, how important it is to come out each and every set and play at a high level."
 
For the players, the thrill of the win came in performing in front of their friends and family at home, but realize they still have work to do.
 
"We were really excited that we were going to be able to play on our home court, so that really helped us," said freshman Setter Andrea Thobe (Sideny, Ohio) following the match. "We really wanted to win and show how we can play. We were just really excited to play and we're ready for the next two days."
 
The Mountain East championship continues at WJU tomorrow (Friday) when #3Charleston will face #2 Fairmont State in the first semi-final at 5:00pm. The #1 Cardinals face #5 Shepherd at 7:30. Tickets to the event at the McDonough Center are $7 for adults, $4 for students, and children 5 & under are free.