INDIANAPOLIS – In a true marathon of a five-set match, the No. 10 Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team outlasted host University of Indianapolis, 3-2, on Thursday night.
 
The Cardinals (3-2) held a 2-1 lead after three sets (25-27, 25-11 and 25-19), before they fended off six set points in a long 31-33 set four loss. WJU opened netted four of the first five points of the game-deciding set and never trailed in a 15-12 set five win over UIndy (2-4).

"I'm happy to get out of the match with the win. It was our first five-set match of the year and it was a great match against a very good opponent," said WJU head coach Christy Benner.
 
The four WJU frontline players – Kayce Krucki, Emma Schleucher, Haley Kindall and Lauran Graves – accounted for 70 of the teams 83 kills on the night to lead the effort. Krucki produced a double-double of 18 kills and 15 digs, while Schleucher added her own 18 kills and three service aces. Kindall dropped 17 kills and four total blocks, while freshman Graves hit .682 with 17 kills and two errors in 22 attacks and four blocks assists.
 
The Cardinals face No. 34 Ashland at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, in the second day of the University of Indianapolis tournament.
 
WJU 3, UIndy  2 (25-27, 25-11, 25-19, 31-33, 15-12)
In the sets…
In the first set, WJU fell behind by four points, 16-12, midway through the set. The Greyhounds saw the Cardinals tie the set five times, including at 23-23, 24-24 and 25-25, before the home team killed the final two points.
 
Wheeling Jesuit raced out to a 6-1 lead and built the margin to 18-7. The visitors coasted to a 25-11 final second-set tally where Graves lined five kills, while Krucki and Schleucher had four apiece.
 
Tied at 15 in set three, Schleucher laced an ace and added a kill to finish a 4-0 run for a 19-15 WJU advantage. With a 20-19 lead, the Cardinals put the final five points on the scoreboard to win the set, 25-19.
 
In the set of the night, UIndy won the marathon. The fourth set was tied 19 times. Ahead 25-24, the Greyhounds were unable to convert set-point six times and the Cardinals twice their own for a 31-31 deadlock. UIndy had the final momentum with a final kill and a WJU attack error for the set win.
 
Kindall kept her best set until last. The junior All-American belted four kills, including two of the Cardinals' final three points in the 15-12 fifth set and match win.
 
By the numbers…
For the Cardinals
•Krucki – 18 kills, 15 digs, 3 assts, ace, and a BA
•Emma Schleucher – 18 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces, 3 BA, 2 assts
•Kindall – 17 kills, 3 BA, BS, ace, 2 digs
•Graves – 17 kills, .682 pct. (2 errors, 22 TA), 4 BA
•Andrea Thobe – 69 assts., 15 digs, 6 kills, BA
•Abby Moffit – 21 digs
•Jessica Thobe – 23 digs, 2 assts
•Sam Obringer – 11 digs
•Sydney Obringer – 5 kills, ace
•Emily Blank – 2 kills, 2 BA, 2 digs
 
For the Greyhounds…
•Becca Lira – 23 kills
•Shelby Ruffner – 18 kills