Box Score

Watch the post game press conference HERE
 
WHEELING, W.Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team took another step closer to claiming the Mountain East Conference tournament championship on Friday night, shutting down a determined Shepherd University 3-0 in straight sets (25-11, 25-20, 25-21).
 
The Cardinals will face familiar opposition in Fairmont State on Saturday at 7:30pm for the conference title at the Alma Grace McDonough Center on the Wheeling Jesuit camps.
 
WJU will attempt to set a high bar for the rest of the MEC in the future on Saturday as well, and go undefeated in the conference's first ever season at a perfect 19-0.
 
The Cardinals came out of the gates strong, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the first set before finishing off the Rams 25-11 to go up 1-0.
 
The rest of the match wasn't as smooth sailing for WJU however. Shepherd mounted an early attack of their own in the second set going up on the Cards 7-2 in the early stages before WJU forced the Rams into receiving errors to claw their way back into the lead, and the eventual win 25-20.
 
Senior Middle Blocker Jenna Pew said after the match that she was pleased with her young team's ability to adjust when they found themselves down.
 
"I love, as a Middle Blocker, offensively drawing the block and our setter shoots it outside," said Pew. "That helps our freshmen outside hitters a lot. They did well tonight. They've carried us in a couple big games and I think this is all part of their growth."
 
The Rams again demonstrated they were not willing to go down without a fight in the third set, going on a 7-1 run midway though the set to go out to a 16-11 lead. The lead wouldn't last long however as the Cards came storming back with a big ace from Madison Strall and a kill from Kayce Krucki to regain the lead at 17. WJU had 12 kills in the set to bring home the 25-21 victory.
 
Leading the Cardinals in the stat column on the night were Kruki and fellow freshman Emma Schleucher who had 12 kills a piece on the night. Andrea Thobe was once again the guiding force behind the Cardinal attack with 38 assists, and Makenzie Ripley had another good night defensively with 15 digs.
 
The Cardinals now focus all their attention on Fairmont State and the Mountain East Conference Championship set to get underway at the Alma Grace McDonough Center on the WJU campus at 7:30pm on Saturday, November 23^rd.
 
Tickets to the championship are $7 for adults, $4 for students, and children 5 & under are free. Students are also free with a valid ID.