Wheeling, W. Va. – Homecoming, Family, and Hall of Fame weekend tipped off inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center as the Wheeling University Volleyball team (6-8, 3-0) welcomed in Point Park. With two of the 2025 Hall of Famers who will be inducted in tomorrow 's ceremony in attendance , the Cardinals swept the Pioneers 3-0. The Cardinals played three tight sets throughout the night as they kept their strong start to Mountain East Conference (MEC) play alive.
The Cardinals young players would take the spotlight as they battled to a 4-4 score early on. The Pioneers were able to hold off the Cardinals attack in the early portion of the set, holding a 10-8 lead through the first 18 points of the set. It would be junior Middle blocker Katie Wilking that got things going with a kill and the Cardinals were off on a 5-1 run that put them ahead 13-11. Willing and Camryn Matur both had kills on the run and the Cardinals would not give up the lead after that. They extended their advantage to 17-14, but the Pioneers were relentless as they tied the ser up late at 18-18. A Pioneer service error would give Wheeling the ball back and they would pull away with a 6-2 run. Cami Black would knock down the kill to set up set point Ave Point Park would keep the set alive with a kill by Avery Budrys-Rinni. However, an attack error on the next play would bring the set to an end as the Cardinals won 25-21 to take a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals kept the momentum going into set two when Faith Keifer knocked down a service. Ace to give Wheeling a 1-0 lead. However, Point Park would respond by scoring three straight points to take a 3-1 advantage. The Cardinals would immediately tie things at 4-4 and the back and forth between the two teams raged on early in the set. Point Park had a 9-8 advantage for service error. Drop the ball back in the Cardinals Court. It sent the Cardinals on a 5-2 run, fueled by two kills courtesy of Bella DeBarr, And the Cardinals were staked to a 14-10 lead. However, as was the case in the first set, Point Park would battle back and things sat tied at 18-18 late in the set. It would once again be DeBarr who got the Cardinals going, Knocking down each of the next three kills for the team and Wheeling took a 21-19 lead. Point Park's Nicole Reasbeck responded with a kill, but Wheeling would knock down the final four points as an attack error. Gave them the 25-20 set two win.
With Wheeling staked to a 2-0 lead, The Cardinals would head into the third set looking for their first conference sweep of the season. Point Park would make things difficult, scoring four of the first seven points to take a 4-3 lead. A kill by Cami Black would get the set back to even and sent the Cardinals on a 5-1 run that helped widen the gap to 8-5. Willing, DeBarr, and Josie Schroeder would each pick up kills on the run and the Cardinals were out to a 14-9 lead. The Pioneers were down but not out and they would overtake Wheeling late in the set at 19-18. A service ace would give the Caridnals the ball and hey ran with it going on a 3-0 run. Point Park knocked down one more point before DeBarr put the bow on the effort. She knocked down the final three kills, including the final kill of the night as the Cardinals walked away with the 25-20 set three win. It was the Cardinals first conference sweep of the season as they moved their record to 3-0 in conference play.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was sophomore Bella DeBarr, who picked up her first career double-double in the effort. She finished with 10 kills and 10 digs, three of those coming in the final four points of the match, as she paced the Cardinal effort. She was the only Cardinal to reach double digit kills in the effort, with the Cardinal's most efficient hitter being Katie Wilking at .333, who finished with six kills. Leading the defensive effort was Mara McDougal, who dug out 11 balls on the effort to sit one ahead of DeBarr on the night. Camryn Matus and Faith Keifer would split the setting duties, with both players finishing with 12 assists on the night.
The Wheeling University Volleyball team returns to action on Tuesday, October 7th, when they travel to Frostburg State with tip-off at 7 PM.
