Wheeling Jesuit To Battle Gannon
In Atlantic Region VB Opening Round

Indianapolis, IN, Nov. 17, 2009---Wheeling Jesuit has earned the fifth seed in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Volleyball Tournament and will open play Thursday evening at 5:00 p.m. versus Gannon (PA).  The Cardinals (35-5) ran their win streak to 25 consecutive matches after sweeping Alderson-Broaddus in Saturday's WVIAC Tournament title match.  Top-seed California (PA) is the regional's top seed and host institution.

WJU downed West Virginia State and Slippery Rock in last season's NCAA Tournament before falling to Cal in the regional final.  Christy Benner's Cardinals can claim back-to-back WVIAC Players of the Year in Catie Halberstadt and Keysha Allison.  WJU also boasts the 2009 WVIAC Freshman of the Year in Allissa Ware

Wheeling Jesuit lost a five-set thriller at Gannon (22-9) in mid-September during the regular season.  The winner of Thursday's first round match will likely face top-seed California (PA) in Friday's semi-final round.  The host Vulcans battle Chowan (NC) in their opening round battle.

Complete pairings follow:

2009 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional
November 19-21
California, PA (Hamer Hall)

Thursday, November 19
G1: #3 Clarion (26-9) vs. #6 Edinboro (22-12), 12:00 p.m.
G2: #2 Lock Haven (32-5) vs. #7 Mercyhurst (20-12), 2:30 p.m.
G3: #4 Gannon (22-9) vs. #5 Wheeling Jesuit (35-5), 5:00 p.m.
G4: #1 California, PA (33-5) vs. #8 Chowan (29-8), 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 20
G5: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2, 5:00 p.m.
G6: Winner G3 vs. Winner G4, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 21
G7: Winner G5 vs. Winner G6, 7:30 p.m.