Wheeling University Volleyball Team Gears Up for MEC Tournament
Wheeling, W.Va. – The Wheeling University Volleyball team, having secured the #1 seed in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division, is set to begin their quest for a conference title in the MEC Tournament, starting Thursday at 2:30 PM against #4S West Virginia Wesleyan.
The Cardinals aim to defend their championship after concluding the regular season on a high note. Notably, they achieved a stellar hitting percentage of .299 in their season finale, winning all three sets convincingly against West Liberty. Setter Karly Niesen led the charge with 40 assists, enhancing the Cardinals’ already impressive .258 hitting percentage, which tops the conference.
With a remarkable season behind her, Niesen stands out as the national leader in assists across NCAA DI and DII, recording a total of 1,248 assists. She is on the brink of a milestone, needing just four assists to reach 6,000, a feat attained by only 21 other DII setters in NCAA history.
Joining her in the spotlight is standout hitter Katie Wilking, boasting a .407 hitting percentage, the highest in NCAA DII. Wilking has maintained a hitting percentage above .400 in her last five matches. Riley Kindall, another key player, finished the season with 403 kills, ranking second in the conference.
The tournament kicks off with all eight MEC playoff teams competing in a single-elimination format at West Virginia State, which hosts the event for the third consecutive year. The Cardinals, champions every year since the MEC’s inception in 2013, hope to extend their championship streak as they face familiar foes in the postseason. The match against the Bobcats marks their 34th encounter, with Wheeling holding a significant 29-4 advantage in the series, including a 5-0 postseason record.
Fans can catch the live action from the Walker Convocation Center or follow the live stats.
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Photo credit wucardinals.com