Wheeling, W. Va. – After making the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship match a season ago, the road back to the NCAA Tournament kicks off for the Wheeling University Volleyball team. Their first stop takes them down to Pensacola, Florida for the SpringHill Suites Invitational, hosted by the University of West Florida. The Cardinals will play four matches over the next three days, taking on two opponents who were mentioned in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Preseason Poll.
Last season, the Cardinals found themselves back in the NCAA Tournament after going 23-9 overall and 12-2 in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play during the regular season. They earned the MEC North Division title, and began their run in the MEC Tournament with a 3-0 sweep against West Virginia Wesleyan. They followed that up with another 3-0 sweep against the University of Charleston, before meeting up with West Virginia State in the Championship match. After splitting the first two sets, the Cardinals would fall 3-1 to finish runners-up in the conference. They entered the NCAA Tournament as the #3 seed in the Atlantic Region, and battled to victories over Pitt-Johnstown and IUP.. They would take the first set from Gannon in the Championship match, but would fall 3-1 to end their season.
They enter 2025 with a new look crew of 10 recruits coming in who will look to their veteran leadership to lead the way. On the offensive side, the Cardinals will look to junior Middle Hitter Katie Wilking, while earned Second Team All-MEC honors a season ago. It was a career year for Wilking in 2024, who set new career highs in kills (324), kills/set (2.55), and hitting percentage (.387) sitting second on the team in all three categories. While she developed as a force on the offensive side of the ball, she was also able to step up on the defensive end. She would sit second on the team with 82.0 total blocks, 11 solo and 71 block assists, a season ago and looks to be the Cardinal's primary blocker during the 2025 season. With the Cardinals graduating three of their top four attackers from a season ago, Wilking will look to step up in a leadership role on the offensive side of the ball.
The Cardinal's other returning All-Conference player is sophomore Olivia Batch, who was named the conference's Freshman of the Year a season ago. Batch burst onto the scene for the Cardinals in 2024, finishing with 179 kills and a .213 hitting percentage during her freshman season. Her contributions were also felt on the Cardinal backline, where she finished with 217 digs to sit fourth on the team. She will look to be a six-rotation player for the Cardinals as she continues to grow into her sophomore season. Returning to lead the backline will be senior Melia Gorrell, who has been a part of the team's Defensive Specialist group for the past three seasons. In 2024, she spent some time as one of the team's two liberos, and finished with 108 digs and an .897 reception percentage. She looks to be a leader for the defensive group in 2025 as she looks for her best season yet as a senior.
Despite bringing on 10 new recruits for the 2025 season to replace those who graduated, the Cardinals were still making waves in the preseason poll. The Cardinals were one of 20 teams to Receive Votes in the AVCA Preseason National Top 25 Poll, receiving 49 votes from the committee. As they head into the opening weekend tournament, the Cardinals will see two other teams that made the opening poll, taking on #15 Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday and the host West Florida, who received votes in the poll, on Friday morning. Head Coach Christy Benner has a history of challenging her teams in the preseason against the top opponents in the country as they prepare for the level of competition they will face in the MEC. The Cardinals have opened with this tournament in nine of the last 10 seasons, the only exception being the 2020 COVID season, and they are ready to take on some of the top competition in the country.
The Matchups
Northern Michigan: The Cardinals and Wildcats will meet for the first time in program history when they come together on Thursday evening. They were picked #4 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason poll, after going 20-9 overall and 13-4 in GLIAC play a season ago. The Wildcats lost their leading attacker from a season ago, but will be led by senior McKenzie Gruner, who finished second on the team with 224 kills last season while holding a .295 hitting percentage. The Cardinals look to start the all-time series in the win column.
RV University of West Florida: The Cardinals and Argonauts are meeting for the 12th time in program history, with West Florida leading the all-time series at 8-3. The Cardinals have been able to take at least one set from the Argonauts in each of the last three seasons, but will be looking for their first victory over West Florida since the 2019 season. Their last meeting came a season ago when the Cardinals fell 3-1 to West Florida in the same tournament. Former Cardinal Riley Kindall led the offense with 20 kills, while Katie Wilking finished behind her with 11. Giana Mutersbaugh would lead the defensive effort, finishing with 22 digs.
Spring Hill College: The Cardinals and Badgers are meeting for the fifth time in program history, with Wheeling leading the all-time series at 3-1. The two teams have split their last three meetings, with both teams having taken at least one set in the all but one match in the all-time series. Wheeling has the only sweep in the all-time series, coming back during the 2019 season and looks to make it back-to-back wins over the Badgers. Their last meeting came on September 7th of last season, when the Cardinals defeated Spring Hill College 3-1. Katie Wilking would lead the offensive effort with 19 kills and former Cardinal Mady Winters added 18 kills of her own. Former Cardinal Riley Kindall would lead the defense with 22 digs, while former Cardinal Karly Niesen added 53 assists to round out the day.
#15 Southwest Minnesota State: The Cardinals and Mustangs are meeting for the sixth time in program history, with Southwest Minnesota State leading the all-time series at 4-1. The Mustangs have swept each of the last three matchups between the teams, with the Cardinals looking to take their first set since the 2017 season. Four of their previous five meetings have come at this tournament, as the Cardinals look to turn the tide in the matchup. Their last meeting came on September 7th, 2024, in a match that Southwest Minnesota State would win 3-0. Former Cardinals Samantha Comer and Mady Winters would combine to lead the offense with eight kills each. On defense, former Cardinal Riley Kindall added 13 digs and former Cardinal Karly Niesen added 28 assists to round out the day.
The Details
The 2025 SpringHill Suites Invitational, hosted by the University of Florida, tips off on Thursday, September 4th, when Wheeling takes on Northern Michigan University at 5:30 PM. You can watch the action live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
