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16 vb regional kayce vs upj
Kelly Klubert
0
Pitt-Johnstown UPJ 25-10
3
Winner Wheeling Jesuit WJU 40-2
Pitt-Johnstown UPJ
25-10
0
Final
3
Wheeling Jesuit WJU
40-2
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Pitt-Johnstown UPJ 15 17 19 (0)
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Chris Myers

Focused Cardinals Power Over Lady Cats, Win Program-Record 40th Match

WHEELING, W.Va. – With a true determination, the Cardinals qualified for a chance at a sixth-straight NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship. A focused Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team powered past the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in straight sets, 3-0, in Saturday night's Regional Semifinals.
 
The Cardinals (40-2) jumped on the Mountain Cats (25-10) in each of the first two sets and rallied from down three in the third set for final scores of 25-15, 25-17 and 25-19. The WJU victory set a new program-record 40th win of the season, which breaks last season's 39-win total.
 
"I congratulate UPJ and their players as they played very hard," said Cardinals head coach Christy Benner. "We improved our ball control and played together tonight. Sam (Obringer) really stepped up as our libero and Andrea (Thobe) ran a very efficient offense tonight."
 
The WJU win sets up a meeting with No. 3 seed
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Emma Schleucher (24) & Lauran Graves (25) team for the block
Edinboro, which defeated No. 2 Gannon in a 3-0 match in the night's first semifinal. The Atlantic Regional Championship will have a 5 p.m. first serve at WJU's McDonough Center.
 
The big switch of the night came the 2016 Mountain East Conference Libero of the Year, Kayce Krucki. The senior switched back to her past three years outside hitter spot, which she earned 2015 MEC Player of the Year at, and led the WJU attack. Krucki touched down 13 kills in 28 attacks for a .357 hit percentage, six digs and a pair of blocks.
 
"It was nice to be back as a hitter as that has been where I played my whole career until this year, but I have enjoyed libero as well. I want to do anything I can as long as we win," said Krucki. "I learned a long time ago you don't always need to hit the ball so hard every time (of her variety of different kills in the match)."
 
Freshman Breanna Kramer lined 12 kills, dug 14 attacks and served two aces in an all-around night. Emma Schleucher smashed eight kills and was part of three duo blocks. Haley Kindall chipped in six kills and Lauran Graves totaled four blocks.
 
Thobe directed the fast Cardinals offense with 39 assists and added six digs, two kills and a block.
 
"I thought our passing was on point and I felt I could set whoever I wanted with how our hitters were swinging tonight," added Thobe.
 
WJU built an early five-point lead, 9-4, in set one. The Cardinals held the same margin, 20-15, until they recorded the final five points with a Kindall and Thobe combo block in the final point, 25-15.
 
After a UPJ kill made it 16-14 in set two, WJU rattled off six points in a row for separation, 22-14, including a pair of Schleucher and Graves pair blocks. WJU went on for the 25-17 final.
 
The Lady Cats held a lead of as many as four points, 12-8, but they could not hold on to it. The Cardinals turned a 15-13 deficit into a 17-16 lead on a Katie Campbell winner. Leading 19-18, WJU finished strong with six of the final seven points capped by a Kindall middle kill for the 25-19 match-winning score.
 
UPJ received 10 kills from Maura Brehl and nine from Cambria Wierman.
 
 The Edinboro-WJU Championship matchup with be the first in 2016 between the two programs.
 
"We haven't played Edinboro in a long time," noted Benner. "They are quick, have great middles, are very controlled and have a fast (offensive) scheme. It will be a great matchup. We will have to play together and control the ball and limit our errors to come out on top."
 
 
 
 
-GoCards-
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