CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The University of Charleston was within five points of pulling out a thrilling upset over defending WVIAC champion Wheeling Jesuit, but the Cardinals charged from behind to slip away with a hard-fought 3-2 win.

WJU (14-2, 6-0) came out in game one in usual form, but outstanding play on the outside for the Golden Eagles kept the visitors within reach at 14-10 early. UC made its first run of the evening as seven of the next eight serves were from Ashley Douglas (Ontario, Canada ) and Kelsey Eby (Portland, OR) to charge to the lead at 17-15. Over the next eight points Lora Goss (Birmingham, AL) recorded three blocks, while teammate Malleri Hardison (Uniontown, PA ) booked two and a block assist as the Charleston defense continued to come up big leading to a 25-20 win in set one.

The second set wasn't nearly as clean for the home team as they managed to hit just .133, while Wheeling Jesuit committed just five errors to hit .245 to hold off a late UC charge for a 25-20 win over their own to knot the contest at a game apiece.

Charleston (6-13, 0-2) showed they had plenty of firepower left in the third set as the team fired their top attack percentage of the night (.375) to run away to a 20-10 advantage. The Cardinals scrapped to get back in the set, but a Katie Williams (Gettysburg, PA ) ace and a powerful slam by freshman Julia Moskal (Ontario, Canada) capped a dominant 25-13 win.

In set number four it looked as though UC had the makings of a solid home court upset as they hit .323 to pull away for a quick 18-11 lead. WJU capitalized on five Golden Eagle errors to pull within 20-16, which led way for a tidal wave to hit the Charleston game plan. Wheeling Jesuit showed the composure of a championship caliber team as they picked apart the deficit with defensive pressure at the net forcing miscues on the other side to knot the score at 20-20. Moskal again struck with a slam down the left side to have UC the final lead it would see on the evening at 21-20. Eby recorded the final point for Charleston in the set as the Cardinals notched five points down the stretch to force a decided fifth game.

The UC offense was drained with the tough battle of the first four sets and WJU showed why they are a perennial regional power in putting together a reorganized attack to hit their best of the night (.385) in a 15-7 game five win to seal the contest. Charleston managed just five kills to four errors in the fifth set as they were unable to replicate the successes of earlier in the contest.

On the evening Hardison paced the Golden Eagles with a double-double of 12 kills and 16 digs, while Williams and Eby split time setting the ball with 24 and 21 assists, respectively.

Despite dropping a tough contest UC will not have long to recoup as they turn around to face West Liberty at 2:00 pm tomorrow (Sat. - Oct. 1) in Eddie King Gym.