Box Score At this stage of the volleyball season, every weekend presents another learning experience. That's especially true when you have five freshmen and four sophomores on the roster.
That's the case with the AU volleyball team, which is 6-2 after the first two weeks of the season. Saturday night at Kates Gymnasium, the Eagles fell, 3-1 to Wheeling Jesuit in the final game of the Quality Inn and Suites Invitational. The loss snapped a five-match winning streak for AU.
Ashland ended the two-day tourney with a 3-1 record. Wheeling Jesuit went 4-0 in the event. Saturday, the Cardinals stopped AU, 3-1. The Cardinals won 25-12, 14-25, 25-23, 25-22.
Wheeling Jesuit is 5-3. The Cardinals began the year ranked 18th in the country and in this week's poll, is listed "Among Others Receiving Votes." AU's other loss this season came to sixth-ranked Washburn, meaning both of Ashland's losses this season have come to teams that have been nationally ranked.
Wheeling Jesuit middle blocker-setter Jenna Pew was named the tournament's most valuable player. Her teammate, outside hitter Kayce Krucki, earned a berth on the all-tournament team. Ashland's two tournament team selections were freshmen outside hitters Alli Cudworth and Casey Clark. The other members of the all-tournament team were Cedarville's Hannah Wagner, Caitlyn Dean of Tusculum and Megan Flick of Lock Haven.
Cudworth and Clark had 10 kills apiece against Wheeling Jesuit. Clark completed a double-double with 10 kills. Senior outside hitter Kate Eckels posted 11 kills, 10 digs and three block assists. Sophomore middle blocker Samantha Zuber had six block assists and nine kills. Senior defensive specialist Marci Zegarac had 19 digs.
Emma Schleucher had 12 kills for the Cardinals. Haley Kindall had 11 kills and five block assists and Kayce Krucki had 11 kills and 14 digs.
The match was tied 21 times and there were six lead changes.
