Charleston, W.V- In game two of their four-game road trip, the Wheeling Cardinal Volleyball team (18-9) (9-2) faced off against the Golden Eagles. Charleston stunned the Mountain East Conference's (MEC) 11-time raining champion 3-1 in the state capital.
Wheeling split the first points with Charleston but jumped ahead because of a kill from Riley Kindell and a service ace from Melia Gorrell. The Golden Eagles did not let the lead stray away from them for long as Charleston battled back to make it 9-8 U.C. Both teams locked up with each other and kept things even, but the Golden Eagles soared through the middle part of the set with six kills, with three coming from the hand of Emma Shepard. Wheeling was unable to control the ball, recording three attack errors and two service errors in the 12-6 Charleston run that saw them take the first set 25-19.
The beginning of the second set seemed to be promising for the Cardinals. They traded points with their opponent to start things off, and Wheeling led 12-9. Charleston responded by taking the following four points. The Cardinals fought back to take the lead 15-13, but then Charleston flipped a switch and dominated the rest of the way. The Golden Eagle's 12-2 stretch was highlighted by four kills from Patrycja Majos, two service aces, and another three Wheeling attack errors. The Golden Eagles had the Cards on the ropes as they captured the second set 25-17.
Wheeling needed a spark if they wanted to stay alive in this one. Riley Kindell put up two kills, Olivia Batch added one, and the Golden Eagles provided the other three via attack errors to open the third set. Charleston got back in touch and kept it close, entering the middle frame of the set. Wheeling began to pull away after a Mady Winters kill and four straight misplacements by Charleston, one off a Winters block. Kindell added another three kills, and Winters recorded the last one of set three as the Cardinals stayed alive with a 25-17 victory of their own.
The Cards still needed a win in set four to stay alive. After another back-and-forth affair, Charleston's Riley Hoff and Majos rattled off two successful attacks to give them the 11-7 lead. Three service aces and three kills later would see the Golden Eagles on a 7-3 run at a crucial point in the set. With Katie Wilking and Batch recording kills and Kindell serving up an ace, Wheeling could claw back into it as they still trailed by two, 20-18. The Cardinals surrendered another kill, ace, and attack error to Charleston. A kill and block from Mady Winters gave hope for the Wheeling bench, but U.C.'s Pia Selke knocked down the final kill as the Golden Eagles stormed the court, taking the fourth set 25-20.
Riley Kindell pushed her double-double streak to five with 16 kills, 14 digs, and an ace. Mady Winters finished with nine kills and four block assists. Katie Wilking notched seven kills, and Olivia Batch ended just behind her with six. MEC Offensive Player of the Week, Karly Niessen, recorded 37 assists, marking her fourth straight game with 35+ assists.
The Wheeling University Volleyball team will retake the court on Monday, November 4th, when it plays the Frostburg State Bobcats.
