INDIANAPOLIS – After a long Thursday night match, Wheeling Jesuit kept the momentum rolling and gave Ashland its first volleyball defeat Friday afternoon in straight sets, 3-0.
 
The No. 10 Cardinals (4-2) wasted no time in setting the match tone with a 14-4 finish of the opening set to win 25-15. WJU netted the final four points of the second set (26-24), before it completed the sweep (25-17) of Ashland (4-1) in the third.
 
"We went into this match understanding Ashland's determination to win. As each set went along, we made adjustments that gave us favorable matchups. It was a very good team effort today to earn the win," said Cardinal head coach Christy Benner.
 
Freshman Lauran Graves continued her solid early season play. Graves led WJU with 10 kills, hit .444 and posted four block assists. Kayce Krucki added nine kills and eight digs, while Emma Schleucher chipped in eight kills, had a .500 pct. and laced a pair of aces. Setter Andrea Thobe handed out another double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs.
 
"We have two big challenges tomorrow as well when we face No. 3 Minn.-Duluth and No. 6 Colorado Mines," noted Benner.
 
The Cardinals complete the three-day University of Indianapolis Tournament against No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth at 9 a.m. and No. 6 Colorado of Mines in a 3:45 p.m. match on Saturday, Sept. 12.
 
No. 10 WJU 3, Ashland 2 (25-15, 26-24, 25-17)
In the sets…
Tied at 11, WJU put the next two points on the scoreboard and never trailed again. The Cardinals scored eight of the next 10 points from the tie and 14-4 to end the match for the 25-15 final.
 
Ashland had its strongest run of the day in the second. Behind 22-20, the Eagles scored the next four points for set-point, 24-22. The Cardinals' block of Haley Kindall, Krucki and Andrea Thobe stopped the next two Eagle attack to make it 24-24. Sam Obringer served an ace, before Ashland committed an attack error to end the set, 26-24.
 
With a one-point lead, WJU recorded five of the next six points to open a 16-11 advantage and never led by fewer than three points to complete the sweep, 25-17.
 
By the numbers…
For the Cardinals
•Graves – 10 kills, .444 pct. (2 errors, 18 TA), 4 BA, 2 assts, dig
•Krucki – 9 kills, 8 digs, ace, BA
•Schleucher – 8 kills, .500 pct. (1 error, 14 TA), 2 aces, 2 BA, asst
•Kindall – 6 kills, .455 pct. (1 error, 11 TA), 3 BA, 3 digs
•A. Thobe – 28 assts, 2 BA, ace, 10 digs, kill
•Jessica Thobe – 11 digs, 2 assts
•Sam Obringer – 5 digs
•Maddy Smyth – 5 kills, 2 BA
 
For the Eagles…
•Alli Cudworth – 11 kills, 7 digs, 2 aces
•Casey Clark – 9 kills