Volleyball

Wheeling Tops Charleston 3-1 to Win 2022 MEC Volleyball Tournament Championship

Postgame Press Conferences: UC | WU

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Wheeling responded from a 1-0 deficit for the second-consecutive night, and as a result came away with its 10th Mountain East Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship on Saturday evening at the Wehrle Innovation Center in Charleston. The Golden Eagles took set one by a 25-23 final, before the Cardinals reeled off three-straight sets by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-22.
 
Wheeling had 65 kills and just 12 errors in the match, hitting well above its season average at .312 on Saturday night. The Cardinals also had a 12-4 advantage in total blocks.
 
Wheeling was led on the attack by Allonda Watkins with 23 kills to go with six total blocks in the championship match. Tylah Yeomans and Riley Kindall added 13 kills apiece for the Cardinals. In addition to Watkins performance around the net, the Cardinals also got six more blocks from Lexi Smith and five from Mady Winters.
 
Karly Niesen continued her high-level play on Saturday evening and finished the match with 61 assists to lead the Wheeling offense. Melia Gorrell finished the evening with a team-high 22 digs for the Cardinals, while Kindall chipped in 13 and Reagan Rosi added 12.
 
Wheeling is now 26-7 on the season and has earned the Mountain East Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Atlantic Regional next weekend.
 
Charleston hit .219 in the setback, getting 20 kills and an ace from Pia Selke. McKenzie Damon also chipped in 15 kills for the Golden Eagles, while Sage Bearnson drove home 13. UC had 65 kills compared to 24 errors in the match.
 
The UC attack was once again led by Maria Hernandez with 56 assists. On defense, Charleston was led by libero Erin Carmody with 18 digs.
 
With Wheeling earning the MEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Atlantic Regional next weekend, Charleston (3rd last week), Fairmont State (5th), West Liberty (7th) and West Virginia State (8th) will find out on Sunday at 10:30 p.m. if they will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament. Fans can watch the selection show live on NCAA.com.
 
2022 Mountain East Conference Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Bryce Knapp, Fairmont State
Kirsten Bogunovich, West Liberty
Maria Hernandez, Charleston
Pia Selke, Charleston
Karly Niesen, Wheeling
Alonda Watkins, Wheeling
Tylah Yeomans, Wheeling