Join Us for the Exciting Annual Wheeling Volleyball Invitational: A Homecoming Celebration at Wheeling University!

Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Volleyball team is gearing up for its annual Wheeling Invitational at the Alma Grace McDonough Center. After a tough start on the road with seven losses, the Cardinals are excited to host some top teams from the region, including Gannon, Shippensburg, CAL-U, and Clarion in a series of matches over three days.

This past weekend, they faced back-to-back challenges at the Grand Valley State Tournament in Michigan. They opened with a match against Hillsdale College, where they fought hard but lost 3-0. Then, they encountered #13 Grand Valley State and, despite a close game, ended the day with another 3-0 loss. Their final match against Tiffin also ended in defeat, but they pushed hard again, coming close in the first set with a score of 25-22.

Among the players, freshman Megan Platt has emerged as a key player on defense. As the starting libero, she leads the team with 92 digs, averaging 4.00 digs per set. This past weekend, she showed her skills with 45 digs in three matches, including 18 against Tiffin.

On offense, junior Cami Black has taken the lead with impressive performances, hitting double-digit kills in two of the matches. She has contributed 30 kills across the tournament, bringing her total to 77 for the season. Meanwhile, sophomore Faith Keifer has stepped into the crucial setter role effectively, providing 45 assists over the weekend.

The Wheeling Invitational holds significance as this will mark the 10th consecutive year hosting the event (excluding the 2020 season). Historically, the Cardinals have performed well, clinching just one loss in their last four tournaments. This year’s competition includes the ranked Gannon team, currently #22 in the nation, which raises the stakes for the Cardinals as they aim to earn their first win this season before diving into MEC play next week.

The matchups to watch include:

• Gannon: This is the 15th meeting between Wheeling and Gannon, with the series tied at 7-7. Wheeling has a slight edge at home, winning 5 out of 8 encounters. Their last matchup was in the 2024 NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Championship, where they lost 3-1 despite a strong showing from former player Riley Kindall.

• Shippensburg: In their 19 meetings, Wheeling leads strongly at 16-2, including a recent 3-1 win on September 20, 2024.

• CAL-U: Wheeling will face CAL-U for the 26th time. Despite trailing in overall matchups at 10-15, they have won the last six encounters, with the last meeting in 2015 resulting in a 3-0 victory.

• Clarion: In 25 matches, Wheeling dominates the series at 20-4, recently sweeping them in the last two encounters.

The first match of the Wheeling Invitational starts Thursday at 7 PM against Gannon. For those interested, you can watch live here.

This tournament not only showcases emerging talent like Megan Platt but also tests the team against strong competitors. Fans can look forward to an exciting weekend filled with potential turning points for the Cardinals as they strive for victory on their home turf.

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