Wheeling, W. Va. – Entering Tuesday night's match the Wheeling University Volleyball team (18-6, 9-1) needed a win to clinch a spot in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament. They did just that as they earned a 3-0 sweep over Fairmont State to clinch a trip to this year's tournament. The back line defense led the way with 71 digs on the night as they move to 9-1 in MEC play.

The Cardinals offense got things started early as Tylah Yeomans knocked down the first two kills of the night. Wheeling's offense would keep thriving as they scored five of the first seven points as theuY built a 5-2 lead. Fairmont State would keep it close at 8-4, before Wheeling went on the run that would separate them for good. They would put together a 7-1 run that turned it into a 15-5 affair. Mady Winters let the charge with two kills on the run and the Cardinals defense was able to dig out several balls to help Wheeling build the lead. That defense would stay strong and the Cardinals would end the set on a 9-2 run that gave them a 25-9 set one win. Riley Kindall got going during the final run knocking down four kills as wheeling would finish the set hitting .250.

They were able to carry that momentum heading into set two as they nearly doubled that hitting percentage at .467. They continued to build on their run at the end of the first set, scoring the first force points of set two and once again getting out to a 7-2 Yeomans was once again the lead attacker for the Cardinals during the run with three kills adding on to her strong day. Another early Cardinal run push the score to 15-4 at the Midway point of the set as the Cardinals once again look to hold Fairmont State to single digits. They would keep their foot on the gas and nearly did just that bring me up set point at 24-9. However, a wheeling attack air would give Fairmont State the ball back before an Avery Henschen kill would give Wheeling the 25-10 When in a 2-0 lead in the match.

While it was smooth sailing for the Cardinals over the first two sets of play, Fairmont State came back and flipped the script and set three. They scored the first three points of the set and would build a 10-4 lead over the sets first 14 points forcing a Wheeling timeout. The Cardinals got back on track with a kill courtesy of Josie Schroeder And the team went on a short 4-1 run to get back into the set. They would eventually battle all the way back as the two teams sat tied at 22-22 at the end of the set. A Winter's kill and a Fairmont state attack error would set up match point at 24-22, however, Fairmont State would score two straight points of their own to set up a win by two scenario. The same woman who started the scoring would end it as Tylah Yeomans knock down the final two kills as Wheeling won the set 26-24 and took the match 3-0.

Waiting away for the Cardinals was senior Tylah Yeomans, who finished with 16 kills on the night. She sat third on the team with a .387 hitting percentage as she continues to lead the MEC and kills this season. The other Cardinal double digit kill effort paying courtesy of freshman Katie Wilking, who knocked down 10 kills and had a .447 hitting percentage on the night, and Mady Winters added a .500 hitting percentage and eight kills. Mother defensive side, the Cardinals finished with 71 digs as a team including three double digit Dig efforts. Leading the way was Riley Kindall, who had 16 digs while Karly Niesen (15) and Abbey Queen (12) each finished with double digit digs.

The Wheeling University Volleyball team returns to action on Friday, October 27th, when they host the University of Charleston with tip off at 7 PM.