Wheeling, W. Va. – It was a night for witches, warlocks, and ghouls inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center as the Wheeling Volleyball team (20-6, 11-1) hosted Halloween night. The Cardinals kept their role going as they earned the sweep over Frostburg State to earn a 3-0 sweep. The Cardinals are now just one win away from capturing the MEC North Division title with the win as they head towards the MEC Tournament.

The Cardinals made a statement right from the start as Katie Wilking knocked down a kill on the first point of the night. It would spark a 9-2 run to start the match for Wheeling as they jumped out to a lead. They upped their lead to 10-3 before Frostburg State began to fight back. They made it 13-9 when they hit a 6-3 run that brought the score to 13-9 towards the middle of the set. They would stay within four points of the Cardinals for the majority of the set, as the score sat at 19-15 late. Tylah Yeomans knocked down the kill for the 20th point of the night and the Cardinals would control the rest of the set. They went in a 5-1 run that set up match point at 24-16. A Frostburg State attack error would end the set as the Cardinals picked up The 25-16 win and took a 1-0 lead in the match. The Cardinals hit two big runs during the set that separated them and that would be a theme throughout the night.

Early on and set two, the Cardinals and Bobcats traded the first six points as the score sat tied at 3-3 before Wheeling hit their run. This one was started by a kill from Riley Kindall That sparked the 5-0 run and put wheeling ahead 8-3 in the early going. After three straight points from the Bobcats, Wheeling added a 6-1 run that turned it into a 14-6 set midway through. Every time Frostburg State would get something going, the Cardinals found an answer and they built a 22-11 lead late in the set. The Bobcats would add three straight points before an attack error and a Kindall kill set up set point at 24-15. Frostburg State would not go down without a fight sparking a 5-0 run that delayed the match point opportunity for Wheeling. However, a Frostburg State service error would end the run and gave wheeling the 25-19 set victory. The Cardinals were up 2-0 and once again looked to make an early statement in set three as they tried for the sweep.

They would end up getting out to their hottest start of the day as they scored 12 the first 14 points an extended that lead to 13-3 in the early going. Mady Winters, who has been one of the most consistent hitters across the MEC as of late, led the way with four kills during the run while Tylah Yeomans added two of her own. The Cardinals would keep the Bobcats in single digits well into the set as they continue to score and built a 20-7 lead. Kindall would match Winters's effort during the second half of the set with four kills and two more Yeomans kills had all three of the Cardinals main hitters with four kills in the set. Prosper state would eventually get to double digits on a 6-1 run, but the Cardinals set up match point with a kill by Karly Niesen. Hey Bobcat attack error would end the night as Wheeling took the third set 25-13 and won the match 3-0.

For the third match in a row, the Cardinals most efficient hitter was Mady Winters, who knocked down 11 kills and had a .588 hitting percentage. Winters is in the middle of an impressive streak That has seen her hit .300 or better in each of her last eight matches. The Cardinals kill leader was senior Tylah Yeomans, who knocked down 13 kills and hit .243 on the night. The offense was once again led by setter Karly Niesen, who picked up 38 assists on the day and led her team to a.284 hitting percentage. The back line was led by sophomore Libero Melia Gorrell, who dug out a season high 18 balls on the night. Riley Kindall was the other Cardinal to finish with double digit digs as she added 14 on the night. The Cardinals Now need just one more win to clinch the MEC North Division title as they prepare for the 2023 MEC tournament.

The Wheeling University Volleyball team Returns to action on Friday, November 3rd, when they hit the road to face Salem in non-conference action.