Wheeling, W. Va. - Over the last two weeks, the Wheeling University Volleyball team (15-9, 9-4) has been on the road as they continue their second run through the Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division. On Friday, that four-match swing comes to an end when the Cardinals travel to Point Park University with first serve at 7 PM. After clinching their spot in the MEC Tournament last time out, the Cardinals are looking to hold their #2 seeding in the North Division heading into tournament play.
Last time out, the Cardinals would travel to Frostburg State University with their spot in the MEC Tournament on the line. The Cardinals would come out strong in set one, hitting a match-high .250 in the opening set, and rode it to a 7-3 set advantage through the first 10 points. They would end up taking the set 25-20, and their defense would get better and better in each of the following sets. Set two would see the Cardinals get out to a 16-8 lead and they would get out to an 11-4 lead in the third set. In both sets, Frostburg would battle back, but the Cardinal's early lead was enough to hold them off. Wheeling would win by the final scores of 25-19 and 25-17 as they secured the 3-0 sweep over the Bobcats. The win would help the Cardinals clinched their spot in the 2026 MEC Volleyball Tournament as they look to compete for their first MEC Championship since the 2023 season.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was freshman Ava Green, who finished with 10 kills and a .129 hitting percentage on the evening. It was the third straight match that Green has finished with double-digit kills as she continues to grow i her first collegiate season. During that three-match stretch, Green has knocked down 41 kills on 105 total attacks while holding a .229 hitting percentage. Green has been the fifth-leading attacker for the Cardinals this season, knocking down 115 kills and averaging 2.50 kills/set across 46 sets played this season. It was the fourth time this season that Green has been in double digits this season, and she looks to continue her offensive success as the Cardinals make their final playoff push.
Leading the defensive effort on the day was sophomore Mara McDougal, who finished with 21 digs while adding two assists on the night. McDougal has served as the primary libero for the Cardinals this season and has now turned in three straight matches finishing with 20 or more digs. Her 408 digs ranks fifth in the conference, while her 4.74 digs/set ranks her fourth among eligible defensive specialists. Camryn Matus would round out the day, leading the effort with 17 assists on the night. Since taking over as one of the two Cardinal setters in rotation, Matus has picked up seven double-doubles, and two triple-doubles while being a leader on offense for the team. Matus will look to continue being a leader for the program as the regular season wraps up.
Heading into their final three matches of the regular season, the Cardinals sit in a tie for the #2 spot in the MEC North Division. Fairmont State is still within reach, with the Falcons needing just one match to clinch the division title. Tuesday's win broke a string of back-to-back loses for the Cardinals as they look to build momentum down the stretch. Two of their final three matches will come away from the Alma Grace McDonough Center, where the team is 3-3 in six matches. Wheeling looks to get back over .500 on the road on Friday, as they continue their late season stretch. With the conference tournament just two weeks away, Wheeling will look to build momentum heading into the postseason.
The Match-up
The Cardinals and Pioneers are meeting for the 11th time in program history, with Wheeling winning each of the first 10 meetings between the two teams. It will be Wheeling's fourth trip to Point Park, where they are 3-0 compared to a 7-0 mark when they host the Pioneers. The Cardinals have won all but four sets in the all-time match-up, and look to continue their winning ways on Friday.
The first meeting between the two teams in 2026 came back on September 25, in a match that Wheeling would win 3-0. Bella DeBarr would lead the way for the Cardinals, finishing with 11 kills on the day. Mara McDougal and Kendall Kupper would lead the defense with 13 digs, while Faith Keifer led the passing game with 16 assists on the day.
The Details
First serve for Friday's game is scheduled for 7 PM inside the Student Center Gym on the campus of Point Park. You can watch the match live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
