Buckhannon, W. Va. – After playing through their first round of Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division schedule, the Wheeling University Volleyball team (11-7, 5-2) began their stretch of MEC South play on Friday against West Virginia Wesleyan. After dropping the first two sets of the night, the Cardinals would begin to battle back, but the comeback effort fell just short as they dropped a 3-1 effort. Three of the four sets were decided by six points or less as the Cardinals dropped to 5-2 in conference play.

Wheeling would end up scoring the first point of the night thanks to an Autumn King kill, but the first set was back and forth early on. The Cardinal middle blockers would keep the Cardinals going neck and neck with the Bobcats, with Katie Wilking knocking down three kills and Aleithia Wilson picking up two kills through the first 17 points. Wheeling would hold a 9-8 lead through those first 17 points, before West Virginia Wesleyan began to pull away. They went on an 8-3 run that made it a 16-12 score, but a Bobcat attack error and a Wilking block got Wheeling back to within two points. However, Wheeling would score just two more points the rest of the set as West Virginia Wesleyan went on the attack. The Bobcats would end up taking the first set 25-16 to put Wheeling behind 1-0.

Wheeling would once again score the first point of set two, this time courtesy of a West Virginia Wesleyan attack error. The score would sit tied at 4-4 through eight points, but West Virginia Wesleyan would once again pull away, this time on a 4-0 run, and the Cardinals would keep it close at the media timeout. Freshmen Ava Green and Tatum Creps would get in on the fun, combining for three kills for the Cardinals, and Wheeling would trail 15-12 at the break. Another 4-1 Bobcat run would once again create separation, but this time the Cardinals would continue to fight. A service error for the Bobcats combined with a solo block for Wilking got Wheeling as close as 22-19, before three straight West Virginia Wesleyan points ended the set at 25-19. Wheeling was down 2-0 in the match, but would show they still had life with their best set of the night in set three.

The Cardinals would hit .444 as a team in the third set after what was a back and forth battle once again in the early going. Wilson would knock down three kills in the early going, while Josie Schroder added her first two of the night to give the Cardinals a 7-6 lead. West Virginia Wesleyan would take back the advantage at 9-7, but Wheeling hit their first consistent run of the night with a 9-1 swing that made it a 16-10 Wheeling lead late. Creps would lead the way with two kills during the run, but West Virginia Wesleyan would get back to within one point at 20-19. That's when the Cardinals locked in, scoring five of the final six points, with a Wilking kill earning the Cardinals the 25-20 set three win. With the score sitting at 2-1, it looked like the Cardinals would force a fifth set as they took a 19-13 lead late in set four. Creps would lead the way with four kills during the early going, but West Virginia Wesleyan would end up going on an 8-0 run to end the set, taking a 25-21 set four win to claim the 3-1 victory.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was senior Katie Wilking, who finished with 10 kills on 22 total attacks, while hitting .333 on the night. She added a team-best five total blocks, two solo and three assisted, as she continues to be the Cardinal leader in the front row. Ava Green would finish right behind her with nine kills, falling one shy of her career-high, while Aleithia Wilson and Josie Schroder each added seven kills. Camryn Matus led the passing game with 27 assists, while Faith Keifer added 19, and the back line effort was led by Mara McDougal, who finished with 21 digs on the night.

The Wheeling University Volleyball team returns to action on Saturday, October 10, when they travel to Glenville State. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.