Wheeling, W. Va. – After opening their conference schedule on the road last week, the Wheeling University Volleyball team (8-5, 1-1) came home on Friday  for the third time this season. The Cardinals played host to Salem University and came awar with a 3-0 win to stay undefeated on their home floor. Several Cardinals made their first career start on the evening as Wheeling showed off their depth.

Of the seven starters for the Cardinals, three were making their first career starts, and two of those girls made an immediate impact. Chaney Brodbeck would pick you the first kill of the night and Lindsey James added a kill a few points later as the Cardinals built a 6-5 lead. After an early timeout from Head Coach Christy Benner, the Cardinals found their stride with a 7-0 run that pushed their lead to 13-5. Riley Kindall was a driving force during the run, picking up two kills and finishing the first set with five kills. James was right behind her, posting three kills in the set as Wheeling set up set point at 24-11. Kindall's 5th kill of a set would be the one to see all the deal as they picked up a 25-11 win and led 1-0 early on. It would be a big night for James, Brodbeck, and several other Wheeling bench players as they shine throughout the night.

Set two once again saw the Cardinals jump out to an early lead as freshman Cami Black knock down the first kill of the set. It sparked the Cardinals to an 8-3 run to start the set with James and Brodbeck each picking up a pair of kills along the way. The trio would continue to lead the Cardinals as they built their lead to 13-5 Midway through the set when a Tiger attack error gave Wheeling the ball back. As the set went on, more Cardinals started getting involved As Junior Aly Finch led the second half charge. She picked up her first kill in a later portions of the set to make it 19-7 Cardinals before adding Three more kills to bring up set point at 24-10. Salem stayed alive putting up back to back points, but Finch would pick up her fourth kill of the set to give Wheeling a 25-12 win and put them up 2-0 in the match.

With the Cardinals looking for the clean sweep of the night, they got out to their hottest start yet and set three. Nicole Reasbeck started the set with her first career kill and opened up a 6-1 run through the sets first seven points. Reasbeck would have two kills during the run, while Josie Schroeder and Janes each added kills of their own. After serving as the setter for the Cardinals Giana Frayer ended up getting in on the offensive attack adding her first two kills of the night as wheeling expanded their lead to 12-3 at the halfway point of the set. After Salem made it a 13-5 match, Wheeling went on their longest run of the night scoring 10 straight points. James started the run serving for the Cardinals before giving way to Kailey Watkins for the final five points. Watkins stepped up big, picking up her first career service ace as the Cardinals bill of 23-7 lead before going on to win the set 25-10 on a kill from Shelby James.

Several Cardinals picked up first for their careers or set career highs on the night. Leading the way for the Cardinals was Lindsey James who said a Career High with eight kills. She finished the night with a .571 hitting percentage and took advantage of her first career start. Aly Finch and Riley Kindall we're right behind her with five kills each, while nine different Cardinals picked up kills on the day. Included in that group were Nicole Reasbeck and Giana Frayer, who each picked up their first career kills on the night. Frayer led the offense with a career high 30 kills and help the Cardinals hit at a .278 clip on the night. Chylyn Pate led the defensive effort with 14 digs while Abbey Queen Finished behind her with 11.

The Wheeling University Volleyball team returns to action on Saturday, September 30th, When they hit the road to face IUP at 6 PM. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live stats by clicking HERE.