The Lady Cardinal Volleyball team is ranked as the 18th best team in the nation according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II preseason poll.

Wheeling Jesuit returns eight veteran players to this year's squad, which finished 2012 with a West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown, an Atlantic Region championship and a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Elite 8 tournament.

“We finished last season as the 17th ranked team in the nation and I think this preseason poll shows that our program has earned national attention and respect,” said Head Coach Christy Benner. “We have a tough schedule, but have high expectations as we enter the 2013 campaign.”

Benner said the team will be tested during its first weekend of competition. “We will find out September 6 & 7 how the team will fair. We will face number 4 Minnesota Duluth and West Florida, the 19th ranked schools at that opening tournament in Florida.”

Returning to anchor a young Lady Card team is Jenna Pew, a middle blocker/setter and the 2012 WVIAC Player of the Year. Also returning this year is a pair of WVIAC First-Team selections - junior defensive specialist and outside hitter, Makenzie Ripley and sophomore setter Madison Strall.

In addition to eight returning players, Benner has six freshmen joining this year's squad.

The Lady Cards have matches against perennial top 25 teams Lewis (IL), and Rochhurst (MO) this year.

In 2012, the Lady Cards rose to new heights rising to number 17 in NCAA Division II polls, winning the WVIAC crown and receiving the top seed in the Atlantic Region tournament. The squad captured the Atlantic Region championship and competed for the second straight year in the NCAA Elite 8 Tournament. The Lady Cards 21-game winning streak came to an end at that tournament when it lost to the University of Tampa.