Wheeling, W. Va. – The Homecoming & Family weekend rolled on Saturday inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. After winning their weekend opener on Friday, the Cardinals earned the Homecoming Sweep when they beat Glenville State 3-0. A pair of Cardinals had double digit kills as Wheeling began crossover play strong.
The Cardinals success on Friday came largely because of their early set leads and they did it again in set one. The Cardinals scored five of the first six points of the set and led 5-1.
Allonda Watkins had two kills on the initial run and added another on a short 3-0 run that brought the score to 8-3. However, unlike Friday, the Pioneers would continue to battle back and made it 11-9.
Lexi Smith would help Wheeling create separation with three kills in four points and at the halfway point it was Wheeling 15, Glenville State 10. Despite the Pioneers fight, the Cardinals had an 21-18 lead late before they put the set away. Four different Cardinals picked up a kill on a 4-0 run to end the set and give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
In set two, Wheeling got out to a similar 7-4 lead, but this time extended it to 10-4 in the early going. The Cardinals brought their lead to 14-7 before Glenville State began to battle back again. They got to within four points of the Cardinals, but that is as as they would get as Wheeling lead 21-15 late in the set. Smith would come through once again with a big kill and it sparked a 3-0 run that made it set point at 24-15. Glenville State kept the set alive for one more point to make it 24-16, but Smith would get the call once again on a kill that made it a 25-25 set win. With the Cardinals leading 2-0, they were looking to end the day with a sweep and end their weekend strong.
It wouldn't be easy as Glenville State played their best set of the night in that third set. This set was back and forth early on with the Cardinals having a tight 4-3 lead. A 3-0 Cardinals run made it 7-3, but this time the Pioneers didn't let the set get away from them. They made it a one point set at the halfway point and kept it there as the set moved to it's later half. The Cardinals held a 19-18 lead until an attack error got the ball back in their court. They would go on a short 3-0 run, and brought up match point at 24-19. One more Pioneer point would end their offense and, for the second match in a row,
Allonda Watkins would smack down the final kill and Wheeling won the set 25-20. They picked up the 3-0 win and now improve to 6-0 in conference play heading into the third week of October.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was
Allonda Watkins with 14 kills, followed closely behind by
Lexi Smith with 11. The 11 kills were a season high for the fifth year player as she had her best match of the season.
Karly Niesen was once again strong as the Cardinals setter, with 32 assists to go along with two kills on the night. On defense,
Chylyn Pate would have a season high 22 Digs as she continues to play a strong Libero.
Karly Niesen joined her with 11 digs on the day to round out the scoresheet.
The Wheeling University Volleyball team returns to the court on Tuesday, October 11th, when they hit the road to take on Charleston at 7 PM.
