Box Score Wheeling, W.Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit Volleyball team returned to action in the McDonough Center on Tuesday night against a regional foe,  the Mercyhurst College Lakers (14-6). 
 
Jesuit got off to a good start, winning the first set 25-16.  The Cardinals hit .278 and were led by sophomore middle Haley Kindall and junior outside Jessica Thobe, each with four kills.  Thobe also added five digs to add to senior defensive specialist Makenzie Ripley's 7 in the first set.
 
Jesuit started heating it up in the second set, pushing the hitting percentage to .310.  Mercyhurst's hitting percentage fell to .115.  It was Kindall and sophomore outside Emma Schleucher that did the Lakers in.  Kindall added three more kills for a total of 7, while Schleucher finished the set with four kills and one block.  Sophomore outside Kayce Krucki quietly went about her business, adding four kills, one block , and 13 digs after the second frame.
 
In the third set, Mercyhurst tied the game at 11 and then had a five point lead in the third set before freshman outside Maddy Smyth made three huge plays and then Kindall had a block and a dump back to back to put the Cardinals back up 19-18.   Mercyhurst showed why it is a strong regional opponent, battling back to win the third set 26-24.
 
In the fourth set,  Wheeling Jesuit raced out to a 4-0 lead on a Maddy Smyth kill and three unforced errors.  Jesuit finished off the Lakers 25-11 playing multiple players in the set in preparation for the next game against West Liberty University. 
 
Jesuit had four players with double digit kills in the win – Kindall (12), Smyth (11), Krucki (11), and Schleucher (10).  Kindall led the Cardinals with 15.5 points in the match as sophomore setter Andrea Thobe had 43 assists and four digs and Makenzie Ripley had four service aces and 27 digs.
 
The win pushes WJU's record to 21-3 and 6-0 in the Mountain East Conference.