Wheeling, W. Va. – As the NCAA Division II Volleyball Atlantic Regional Tournament came to a close on Saturday in Wheeling, W. Va., the All-Tournament team was announced. As part of the 12-player team, the Wheeling University Volleyball team landed three players on the list after finishing as runner-up in the region.

Senior Audrey Francis, sophomore Karly Niesen, and freshman Mady Winters all made the list after putting together a strong performance in all three of the Cardinals games. Wheeling started their run against #8 Fayetteville State and they ended up winning 3-0. The Broncos gave them a run early in the first set, but the Cardinals came back to win by scores of 25-19, 25-19, and 25-18. They then moved on to the semifinal round, where they had a date with #4 Edinboro. They took the first two sets of the night by scores of 25-19 and 25-14 and were looking for their second straight sweep. However, the Fighting Scots took the third set before Wheeling came back to win 3-1. Then, they faced #2 Gannon in the championship game, where their run ended with a 3-0 loss.

Leading the group was senior Audrey Francis, who proved to be one of the top liberos not only in the tournament but in all of Division II Volleyball. Francis finished with 54 digs over her three games and put together her best performance in the championship game. She dug out 21 balls in that game, bringing an end to a career that was full of accolades. Francis won the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Libero of the Year award five times in her career, was named the 2021 AVCA Atlantic Regional Player of the Year. Francis finished the season with 372 digs and an average of 7.02 digs per set. Francis finished second in the nation in digs and wrapped up an impressive collegiate career.

Another player who has been a consistent performer throughout the year for the Cardinals is setter Karly Niesen. Niesen was competing in her first NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament and continued the consistent passing she has shown all season long. In three games, Niesen racked up 105 assists in those three games and helped the team to a .371 hitting percentage. Niesen led the nation in assists this season, with 1431, and assists per set, with 11.83. Niesen earned All-MEC Second Team Honors, an All-Region Conference Commissioner's Association second team, and an AVCA All-Region member for her effort.

The final member of the All-Tournament team was freshman Mady Winters, who was also playing in her first Atlantic Regional Tournament. Winters finished the tournament with 24 kills, and her best day came on the final day of the tournament. She racked up 11 kills against the Golden Knights and had an impressive .556 hitting percentage in the game. She was one of the most efficient hitters in the tournament for the Cardinals, with a .453 hitting percentage, and used that efficiency to earn her way onto the team. Winters was able to take home several awards during her first collegiate season, including MEC Freshman of the Year and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention.

The Wheeling University Volleyball team looks to continue to build off of its success this offseason, and use it to continue its winning ways moving forward.