West Liberty University Athletics

Hilltoppers Throw Scare Into Defending National Champs

Women's Volleyball | 9/14/2016 8:39:00 AM

Box Score WHEELING, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team threw a bit of a scare into defending national champion and No. 6-ranked Wheeling Jesuit Tuesday night before dropping a 3-1 decision in their mutual Mountain East Conference opener at the McDonough Center.
The Cardinals (7-2, 1-0), who were presented with their NCAA Division II national championship rings during pregame, came out smoking with a 25-10 win in the first set on Tuesday but Coach Heather Fetsko's Hilltoppers (7-3, 0-1) bounced right back to square the match with a 25-23 win in the second set.
Not only has Wheeling Jesuit never lost an MEC match, the Cardinals lost only one set in conference play for the entire season a year ago in posting a perfect 16-0 league mark.
The hosts were able to weather the storm, regaining control of the match with a 25-11 nod in the third set and holding off another strong WLU effort in the fourth set to close up shop with a hard-earned 25-19 win.
Sydney Scherer and Raimey Benson led the way for the Hilltoppers. Scherer had 9 kills and 4 blocks while Benson chipped in with 8 kills and 3 blocks. Mackenzie Sims added 6 kills and a pair of service aces with Stephanie Leonard contributing 5 kills and 4 blocks.
Katie Cornelius and Miranda Garmenn finished with 17 and 13 assists, respectively, while Kailee Cunningham led all players with 18 digs.
The West Liberty women will be back on the ASRC boards on Friday to host the first round of the MEC/PSAC Challenge. The Hilltoppers take on Seton Hill at 1 p.m. with Clarion to follow at 3 p.m.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
No. 6 Wheeling Jesuit 3, West Liberty 1
(25-10, 23-25, 11-25, 19-25)
WEST LIBERTY (7-3, 0-1)
Scherer 9-0-4; Benson 8-0-3; Sims 6-2-0; S.Leonard 5-0-4; Baumhoer 4-0-1; Guidish 2-0-1; Clarke 1-0-0; Windom 0-1-0; Cornelius 0-1-0. Totals 35-4-8.0
Assists: Cornelius 17, Garmenn 13
Digs: Cunningham 18
WHEELING JESUIT (7-2, 1-0)
Kramer 14-3-1; Schleucher 11-2-2; Kindall 9-0-3; Graves 7-1-1; Sy.Obringer 7-0-0; Smith 7-0-0; Thobe 4-0-2; Shippy 1-0-0; Sm.Obringer 0-1-0; Krucki 0-1-0. Totals 62-5-5.0
Assists: Thobe 52
Digs: Sm.Obringer 16, Kramer 13, Thobe 12, Krucki 11

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Players Mentioned

#9 Miranda Garmenn: S/DS; 5' 6"; Junior

#10 Sydney Scherer: MB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#4 Stephanie Leonard: MB/OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#14 Raimey Benson: RS/OH; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#9 Miranda Garmenn
: 5' 6"; Junior
: S/DS

#10 Sydney Scherer
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: MB

#4 Stephanie Leonard
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MB/OH

#14 Raimey Benson
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: RS/OH