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CARDINALS WIN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Wheeling Jesuit University volleyball team has won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship -- posting an 18-0 record in conference play.  The Cardinals finished the regular season with a 29-11 overall record.

This is the seventh WVIAC volleyball championship in school history, as well as the seventh in the past nine seasons, with previous first-place finishes in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

By way of its first-place finish, Wheeling Jesuit will receive a bye into the quarterfinals of the WVIAC volleyball tournament, which gets underway Thursday, November 8 at the Charleston Catholic Sports Complex in Charleston, WV.  The Cardinals will begin tournament play on Friday afternoon at 5:00 against the winner of Thursday’s first-round match between Davis & Elkins and Pitt-Johnstown.

The winner of the WVIAC tournament will earn an automatic berth into the Great Lakes Regional of the NCAA Division II volleyball tournament, which begins on November 15.

WJU Wins a Close Match
Dan Rosato

The Volleyball team faced Findlay at home on Thursday. It proved to be quite a contest for the Cardinals. The first game of the match indicated that it was going to be close throughout. The Cardinals lost the game 31-29. After taking games two and three, WJU gained the lead. Findlay won game four meaning that a tiebreaker would decide the match. The Cardinals won the tiebreaker, coming away with the victory. WJU improved their record to 22-11. The next game for the Cardinals will be at home against Concord University.

Day 2 of the WJU Volleyball Tournament

Dan Rosato

WJU dominated on the second day of the tournament. They defeated both opponents, Slippery Rock and Shippensburg. The Cardinals only needed three games in each match to win.  

As for the rest of the day’s matches, Cal PA beat Alderson Broaddus in just three games and also beat the University of Charleston in four. West Virginia State University lost their first match to Slippery Rock and won their second match against Indiana PA. Shippensburg won their first match against Charleston. IUP later defeated AB in three games.  

Day 1 - The first day of the WJU Volleyball was a split decision for the Cardinals. The first match of the day for WJU was against Cal PA. The Cards lost that match 3-1. However, the second match for the Cardinals was against Indiana PA. WJU dominated winning the first three games. The Cardinals left day one of the tournament with a 16-9 record.

In other action, Alderson Broaddus faced Slippery Rock University in their first match. AB won the first game but SRU won the next three to win the match. AB also struggled against Shippensburg in their second match, losing all three games. Slippery Rock’s second game against the University of Charleston was the first of several 5-game matches in the tournament, with Charleston winning the tiebreaker. The final two matches of the day went to five games. Shippensburg finished off West Va. State and the University of Charleston defeated Indiana PA.

Jesuit Wins Two

WHEELING, WV, Sept. 24, 2007 — Wheeling Jesuit defeated West Liberty State and Point Park each in three games tonight to improve their record to 14-8 overall and 8-0 in conference play.

The Cardinals attack was distributed across the board as they defeated The Hilltoppers of West Liberty 30-10, 30-15, 30-19. Freshmen Laura O'Reilly and Andrea Bova recorded 4 and 3 service aces in the Cardinals victory. Laura O'Reilly also added 16 digs.

In the Point Park game Jesuit defeated the Pioneers 30-25, 30-10, 30-16. Brandi Sroka and Jessica Castmore each recorded 11 kills Vanessa Lepore added 17 digs. Emily Ray added 34 assists.

The Cards will be on the Road Oct 3rd as the take on the Griffins of Seton Hill game time is 7pm.

WVIAC Volleyball Player of the Week (9/24-30):

Jessica Castmore, Wheeling Jesuit, 6-1, RS, Jr., Trenton, MI

Castmore compiled a .508 hitting percentage as Wheeling Jesuit picked up three victories without a defeat last week...The junior had 38 kills and 5 blocks to help the Cardinals remain unbeaten in league play...She racked up 17 kills on 25 attempts without an error (.680 hitting %) in Saturday's sweep of Shepherd.

Other nominees: Glenville State's Erica Hale (11.5 assists per game in 2-1 week), Fairmont State's Micah Bell (15 kills, 29 digs in win over Ohio Valley), West Virginia Wesleyan's Caitlin Smyth (24 kills in wins over A-B and Glenville), Ohio Valley's Michelle Morrison (86 kills in 2-3 week), and Pitt Johnstown's Casey Jo Ritenour (16 kills in two matches).

Jesuit Defeats Shepherd and Tiffin

WHEELING, WV, Sept. 29, 2007 — Wheeling Jesuit defeated Shepherd and Tiffin 3-0 earlier today.

In the Shepherd match Jessica Castmore lead the way with 17 kills, Emily Ray recorded 30 assists, and Vanessa Lepore added 17 digs for the Lady Cardinals. Final scores 30-21, 30-25, 30-22. Jesuit improved its record to 11-8 overall and 7-0 in conference play.

In the afternoon game versus Tiffin the Lady Cardinals defeated the Dragons 30-18, 30-21, 30-19. Emily Brochers and Jessica Castmore each had 10 kills, Emily Ray recorded 38 assists and Vanessa Lepore added 23 digs to the winning effort.

Wheeling Jesuit next competes Tuesday Oct. 2nd has they host West Liberty State and Point Park. Game time is 6pm and 8pm. During the West Liberty game WJU will host a Dig for the Cure volleyball event that will support the efforts of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Dig for the Cure Pink Volleyball Match at Wheeling Jesuit University

WHEELING, WV, Sept. 24, 2007 — Wheeling Jesuit University is hosting a Dig for the Cure volleyball event on Tuesday, Oct. 2 that will support the efforts of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Matches will be played at 6 p.m. as the Lady Cardinals take on West Liberty State College Lady Hilltoppers. At 8 p.m., the Lady Cards will go up against Point Park University of Pittsburgh. Both games are in the McDonough Center and are open to the public.

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Sroka Named WVIAC Volleyball Co-Player of the Week

Brandi Sroka, Wheeling Jesuit, Sr., MB, Pittsburgh, PA/Tara Chizmar, Seton Hill, Soph., OH, Salem, OH: Sroka led Wheeling Jesuit to a pair of key league victories over West Virginia Wesleyan and West Virginia State with a hitting percentage of .483...She had a dozen kills as WJU avenged last season's WVIAC Tournament championship loss at WV State with a three-game sweep...Chizmar had 26 kills as Seton Hill took WVIAC wins against West Liberty State and Shepherd...The sophomore outside hitter compiled a .526 hitting percentage in the Griffins' first two WVIAC victories in program history.

Other nominees: Fairmont State's Micah Bell (13 kills in win over Salem International), Concord's Lindsey Sheppard (18 kills in 2-1 week), and Alderson-Broaddus' Sarah Neikirk (49 kills in 2-1 week).

Cardinals Win in Three

Buckhannon, WV September 12, 2007 — The Lady Cardinals defeated the Bobcats of WV Wesleyan by the scores of 30-21, 30-24, and 30-24 tonight. The win brings the Cardinals to 2-0 in conference play and 6-8 overall.

Wheeling will travel to WV State University this Saturday September 15th. Game time is 5pm.

Cardinals 2-2 in Findlay Tournament

FINDLAY, OH September 1, 2007 — The Lady Cardinals split their four matches this weekend defeating Lake Superior St. and Tiffin 3-0, 3-1. Despite the two loses the Cardinals took Regional powerhouse Northwood to a 5 game series before dropping the contest 2-3. Findlay defeated Jesuit 3-0.

Wheeling will start WVIAC play Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 7P.M. as they will play the Hilltoppers of West Liberty State @WLSC.

Familiar Faces Top WVIAC Volleyball Coaches' Poll

PRINCETON, WV July 21, 2007 — Same story, different year is the forecast by West Virginia Conference volleyball head coaches when they examine the race for the 2007 league championship. Charleston, Wheeling Jesuit, and West Virginia State, which combined for a 45-4 record in WVIAC action in 2006, are once again expected to be the dominant squads.

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