WINGATE, N.C. – The Wheeling Jesuit frontline pounded the final six third-set points and the finish propelled it to a momentum-riding four set win for the 3-1 victory over No. 25 Wingate. The Cardinals started Saturday with a straight-sets victory over Brevard College.
 
Behind 23-19 in the third set, the No. 5 Cardinals (16-2) received kills by Breanna Kramer, Sydney Obringer and Emma Schleucher, before Lauran Graves blocked the set-point and 25-23 win. WJU led the fourth set, 14-9, before it rattled off an 11-2 run, including the final seven points against Wingate, and 25-11 tally. The two teams split two-tight opening sets of 25-23 and 24-26.
 
"I knew it would be a challenge to go into their gym and win. Wingate did a great job tonight and the third set was pivotal," said WJU coach Christy Benner. "I'm proud of the fight in the team and how they fought through the tough points and pulled out that set was incredible. Then to feed off of that set win to finish the match stronger than ever was very good to see."
 
The Cardinals victory, their 10^th In a row, gave the first blemish of the season to the Bulldogs (17-1).
 
Breanna Kramer and Sydney Obringer downed four kills apiece in the important third set, while Schleucher had three.
 
In the match, Breanna Kramer lined 18 kills to go with 17 digs, three total blocks and two assists. Sydney Obringer chipped in 13 kills and four digs.
 
Schleucher hit 12 kills with a .346 percentage and six digs. Haley Kindall added 11 kills, .364 percentage and four total blocks. Andrea Thobe handed out 54 assists and dug 10 attacks. Kayce Krucki and Sam Obringer had 17 and 14 digs.
 
vs. Brevard – 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-10)
 
The Cardinals put the match's first six points on the scoreboard and were never challenged against the Tornado (3-12).
 
After trailing 6-0 in set one, Brevard battled back to within three points, 9-6. WJU scored 12 of the next 16 points for a 22-10 advantage, before a 25-12 final.
 
Graves and Katie Campbell paced WJU with nine and seven kills.
 
Freshmen Aleah Stauffer and Haley Kramer hit for six and five kills, respectively.
 
WJU hosts Shepherd University on Friday, Oct. 7, starting at 7 p.m.