Christy Benner
Head Coach

Christy Benner is in her tenth season as head coach of the Wheeling Jesuit University volleyball program.

Entering the 2010 season with a 270-93 (.744) career record, Benner has led the Cardinals to seven first place finishes in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) in her first nine seasons.  During those nine seasons, the Cardinals have posted a remarkable 143-3 (.979) record in conference play, including seven undefeated conference regular seasons.

Benner’s teams won the WVIAC tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament Regionals in 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Benner was named WVIAC Coach of the Year in both 2003, 2004, and 2010.  Four of her players have been named WVIAC Player of the Year:  Kirstin Hearn (2003), Catie Halberstadt (2008), Keysha Allison (2009), and Laura O'Reilly (2010).  And three of her players have won the WVIAC Freshman of the Year award:  Catie Halberstadt (2006), Allissa Ware (2009), and Jenna Pew (2010). In addition, Keysha Allison was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association third team All-American (2010).

Benner’s 2003 squad recorded one of the most successful seasons in Wheeling Jesuit University history in any sport.  That team led all of NCAA Division II in victories with a 38-3 record and finished the season ranked 22nd nationally in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II poll. The team went 19-0 in the WVIAC regular season, and swept through the conference tournament en route to a number two seeding in the Great Lakes Regional of the NCAA Division II tournament.

Her 2008 team finished the season with a 30-10 record and was awarded the number two seed in the Atlantic Regional of the NCAA Division II tournament.  The team defeated West Virginia State and Slippery Rock to reach the NCAA “sweet sixteen,” before falling to California (PA) in the regional championship match.

In 2009, the Cardinals posted a 36-6 mark, including another undefeated conference season, and a number five seed in the Atlantic Regional of the NCAA Division II tournament.  Wheeling Jesuit defeated Gannon to advance to the regional semi-finals, before once again being eliminated by eventual regional champion California (PA).

Last season, Wheeling Jesuit finished 33-5 overall and swept through regular conference season play without losing a set. The Cardinals secured a fourth consecutive conference title and advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament for the third straight year. WJU defeated Gannon University before being eliminated by Clarion University.

Benner began her volleyball coaching career in 1992 as an assistant coach at Bishop Donahue High School, in McMechen, West Virginia. After three years as an assistant, Benner ascended to the position of head coach at Bishop Donahue, a position she held from 1996-1998. She then took over the head coaching reigns at John Marshall High School, in Moundsville, West Virginia. Benner spent two seasons in that capacity before becoming the head coach at Wheeling Jesuit in 2002.

Benner and her husband, assistant coach Matt, reside in Moundsville, West Virginia with their son, Max.

Matt Benner
Assistant Coach

Matt Benner is in his eleventh season as assistant volleyball coach and recruiting coordinator at Wheeling Jesuit University.  Benner also contributed to the program for five years as a volunteer assistant and instructor prior to being named assistant coach.

Benner has played an instrumental role in the development of the Cardinals’ volleyball program, as the team has grown from mediocrity to championship-caliber during his tenure.  Wheeling Jesuit has won the conference championship in six of Benner’s nine seasons, and has advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament five times during that span.

An accomplished volleyball player, Benner brings an intense, thorough, and positive coaching influence to the team.  As recruiting coordinator, he is largely responsible for the influx of talented players into the program over the past decade -- including three of the five most recent WVIAC Freshman of the Year award winners (Catie Halberstadt in 2006, Allissa Ware in 2009, and Jenna Pew in 2010).

Prior to being named assistant coach at Wheeling Jesuit, Benner spent eight seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Bishop Donahue High School and at John Marshall High School.

In addition to his coaching duties with the Cardinals, Benner works for UPS in Wheeling.

Benner and his wife, head coach Christy, reside in Moundsville, West Virginia with their son, Max.

Kayla Fetsko
Assistant Coach

Kayla Fetsko is beginning her second season at Wheeling Jesuit.  She will be responsible for coaching the newly-formed junior varsity team, assisting with the varsity team, and helping with various administrative duties.

Fetsko graduated from Slippery Rock University last spring with a degree in marketing.  She was a two-year member of the Rock volleyball team, seeing action as both a middle blocker and as a right side hitter.  Slippery Rock advanced to the NCAA Regional tournament in each of her two seasons.  Fetsko was recognized as a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete during both 2006 and 2007.  She also worked at an administrative position in the Slippery Rock athletic office for two years.

A graduate of Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, PA, Fetsko was an all-conference volleyball player, earning three letters in the sport.  Additionally, she earned two letters in basketball and one in track.  Fetsko returned to her alma mater to help coach the volleyball team in 2009.

Fetsko will be pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at Wheeling Jesuit.