TAMPA, Fla. – In one of the toughest early season tournaments, the No. 9 Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team earned a split of two national-ranked Friday. The Cardinals swept past No. 24 Western Washington, 3-0, before they fell, 3-1, against No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth.
 
WJU (1-1) rallied from a five-point and a three-point late-match deficit to Western Washington (0-1), before it came back to take both sets and eventual third set (25-22, 26-24 and 25-22). After a strong 9-1 run to finish the opening set (25-17), the Cardinals were unable to keep the momentum as the Bulldogs (2-0) posted wins in the final three sets (25-16, 25-20 and 25-19).

"It was good to get the first win of the season (against Western Washington). We didn't play perfect, but overcame that in a close battle," said WJU head coach Christy Benner. "Against UMD, we came out playing errorless volleyball and they did not. Then, we had a couple rotations that let us down and UMD capitalized on those. You can't do that against that quality of opponent."
 
On the day, Emma Schleucher and Haley Kindall both pounded 21 kills in the two matches. Schleucher added eight digs and Kindall 11 block assists.
 
Kayce Krucki hit 17 kills and freshman Lauren Graves contributed 15 kills in the two matches. Andrea Thobe handed out 73 assists and Jessica Thobe dug 39 attacks.

"We are now focused on tomorrow mornings match against Wayne State," added Benner.
 
On the second day of the University of Tampa Tournament, WJU will face Wayne State (Mich.) at 10 a.m. and host No. 1 ranked Tampa beginning at 2:30 p.m.
 
Vs. No. 24 Western Washington (W – 25-22, 26-24, 25-22)
WJU trailed Western Washington 16-21 in the first set and 21-24 in the second, before it stormed back for 25-22 and 26-24 set wins. The Cardinals broke a 14-14 tie with three-straight points and never trailed the rest of the third set for a 25-22 victory and 3-0 match win.
 
By the numbers…
For the Cardinals
•Schleucher – 11 kills, 4 BA, 4 digs
•Krucki – 9 kills, 2 Asst., 3 BA, 14 digs
•Kindall – 8 kills, .318 pct., 7 BA, SA, Dig
•A. Thobe – 36 assts, 5 digs, 2 kills, BA
•Graves – 9 kills, 1 error, 17 TA and .417 pct, 5 BA
•Emily Blank – 4 kills, 4 BA, Ast
•J. Thobe – 19 digs
•Abby Moffit – 11 digs
•Sam Obringer – 4 digs
 
For the Vikings…
•Rachel Roeder – 15 kills
•Abby Phelps – 12 kills and 7 digs
 
vs. No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth (L – 25-17, 16-25, 20-25, 19-25)
Tied at 16, WJU recorded the next six points with kills from Schleucher and Kindall for a 22-16 advantage. After a Viking point, the Cardinals made the run 9-1 with the last three points and 25-17 final first set.
 
UMD turned the tables over the next three sets on WJU. The Bulldogs rattled off seven points in a row to turn a tie into a 15-8 lead, which the Cardinals could not recover in the 16-25 final.
 
Kindall killed a point and she gave Wheeling Jesuit a 7-5 early lead in the second set. Minnesota-Duluth scored seven of the next nine points and never trailed again. Graves downed a kill to pull the Cardinals to within, 18-16, but the Bulldogs netted the following five points of the third set and eventual 25-20 final.
 
WJU held four early two-point leads and a 12-9 margin in the fourth set. UMD, again, took the momentum with eight points in a row and opened a 17-12 lead. The Cardinals battled back to within two points three times with the last coming at 17-15, but could not regain the advantage in the 25-19 final.
 
By the Numbers…
For the Cardinals…
•A.Thobe – 37 assts., 3 BA, 6 digs
•Moffit – 9 digs
•Schleucher – 10 kills, 1 error, 25 TA, .360 pct.
•Krucki – 8 kills and 7 digs
•Kindall – 13 kills, 4 BA, 2 digs
•J. Thobe – 20 digs
•Graves – 6 kills
•Sam Obringer – 4 digs
 
For the Bulldogs...
•Mariah Scharf – 17 kills
•Sydnie Mauch – 16 kills, .636 pct., 5 BA
•Team hit .310