Wheeling, W. Va. - After playing their first two non-conference tournaments on the road, the Wheeling University Volleyball team (0-7, 0-0) brings tournament play to the Alma Grace McDonough Center. The Cardinals will host their annual Wheeling Invitational where they invite some of the best teams from around the region, hosting eight matches over the three-day stretch. The tournament begins on Thursday against Gannon, continues on Friday against Shippensburg, and wraps up Saturday with the Cardinals taking on CAL-U and Clarion to end the weekend.
The Cardinal's non-conference tournament schedule continued as the Cardinals headed out to Allendale, Michigan for the Grand Valley State Tournament. They opened the tournament with doubleheader action on Friday against Hillsdale College and Grand Valley State. They began the day against Hillsdale College, and played tight in each of the first two sets, falling by scores of 25-20 and 25-22. However, they weren't able to get over the hump, falling 3-0. Next up was #13 Grand Valley State, the team's third ranked opponent in their first seven matches, and they would round out the day with a 3-0 loss, after battling as close as 25-17 in the third set. They would wrap up the tournament with a match against Tiffin on Saturday, and battled once again into the 20-point mark. Despite getting as close as 25-22 in the first set, the Cardinals would end the weekend falling 3-0 to wrap up the road tournament schedule.
Through the first seven matches of the season, the Cardinals have seen a young leader emerge on the back line in freshman Megan Platt. She has been the team's main libero early on, and is leading the team with 92 digs and an average of 4.00 digs/set through seven matches. It was a big weekend for the freshman, who totaled 45 digs across the three matches, averaging 5.00 digs per set during the weekend. Her biggest effort came in the final match of the weekend, when she picked up 18 digs against Tiffin in the weekend finale. Platt looks to continue her success in the back row as the season goes on and be a defensive leader for the young Cardinal team.
On the offensive side, it has been junior Cami Black stepping into the leadership role for the team. She hit double digit kills in two of the three matches during the weekend, finishing with 30 kills on 91 total attacks while holding a .197 hitting percentage during the week. Black leads the Cardinals early on with 77 kills through the first seven matches and looks to continue that success as they begin the home schedule. After graduating the program's all-time assist leader, sophomore Faith Keifer has stepped into the role for the team and put together a strong weekend. The sophomore finished the weekend with 45 assists, including a 25 assist effort in the finale against Tiffin. Keifer and Lexi Duplessis have been splitting the setter duties in the early going, and Keifer looks to continue being a leader for that group moving forward.
2025 will mark the 10th straight season, excluding the 2020 COVID season, that the Wheeling Volleyball team has hosted the Wheeling Invitational, bringing teams from the Mountain East Conference (MEC) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) together. The Cardinals have performed historically well at the event, losing just one match in the tournament over the last four seasons. This year's tournament will include one ranked program in Gannon, who currently sits as the #22 team in the nation entering play. The Cardinals look to continue their success on their home floor and get in the win column for the first time in 2025 before heading to MEC play next week.
The Matchups
Gannon: The Cardinals and Golden Knights are meeting for the 15th time in program history on Thursday night, with the all-time series tied at 7-7. Wheeling has held the advantage at home, going 5-3 inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center, with Wheeling going 3-2 in the last five home matches. The last meeting between the two teams came in the 2024 NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Championship match on December 7th, 2024, when Wheeling fell 3-1. Former Cardinal Riley Kindall would lead the way for the Cardinals with 18 kills while also holding the team lead with 21 digs.
Shippensburg: The Cardinals and Raiders are meeting for the 19th time in program history on Friday, with Wheeling leading the all-time series at 16-2. Included in that run is an 11-2 mark at home, with the Cardinals winning each of the past four matches between the two teams. Each of the last two matches have gone at least four sets, with the Cardinals winning both of those meetings. Their last match-up came on September 20th, 2024, in a match that Wheeling would win 3-1. Former Cardinal Riley Kindall would lead the way with 20 kills on the day, while Olivia Batch paced the defensive effort with 17 digs.
CAL-U: The Cardinals and Vulcans are meeting for the 26th time in program history, with CAL-U leading the all-time series at 15-10. It will be the first time the two teams have met since the 2015 season, with Wheeling holding a 5-9 record when they host CAL-U. Wheeling has won each of the past six meetings between the two teams, as the programs renew their rivalry on Saturday. The last meeting between the two programs came on September 22nd, 2015, in a match the Cardinals won 3-0. Leading the way for Wheeling was former Cardinal Kayce Krucki with 12 kills, while former Cardinal Jessica Thobe led the defense with 16 digs.
Clarion: The Cardinals and Golden Eagles are meeting for the 25th time in program history, with Wheeling leading the all-time series at 20-4. In 15 previous matches inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center, the Cardinals have gone 14-1, including winning back-to-back matches in 2023 and 2024. The Cardinals have swept each of those last two match-ups, but the two teams had gone at least four sets in the three matches prior. The last meeting between the two teams came on September 21st, 2024, in a match the Cardinals would win 3-0. Leading the way for Wheeling was former Cardinal Riley Kindall, who knocked down 20 kills, while former Cardinal Chylyn Pate added 12 digs to pace the defensive effort.
The Details
Day one of the Wheeling Invitational tips off on Thursday when the Cardinals take on #22 Gannon with tip-off at 7 PM. You can watch the match live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
