CHARLESTON, W.Va. – For the first time since 2007, the Golden Eagles defeated Wheeling University in a four-set thriller on Tuesday night at the Wehrle Innovation Center. 

The Basics
Location: Charleston, W.Va (Wehrle Innovation Center)  
Score: Charleston 3, Wheeling 1
Records: UC (20-3, 7-1 MEC); WU (14-7, 7-1 MEC)
How It Happened
Wheeling University came into the match holding the top spot in the MEC North Division, and a 7-0 record in conference play. Charleston came into the matchup with a 6-1 record in conference play, holding the second spot in the MEC South Division behind West Virginia State. 

The first set was back and forth between the two opponents as Wheeling was able to take the lead 15-14 before going on a 9-4 run to bring the score to 24-18 in favor of the Cardinals. Charleston was able to shave off three set points with back-to-back kills by McKenzie Damon and then a ball-handling error by the Cardinals. Wheeling would take the set 25-21 on a Golden Eagles attack error. 

UC made some adjustments in the second set and were able to drastically change the match. The Golden Eagles were able to win 14 of the first 20 points to take a 14-6 lead in the set. The cushion was more than enough as UC went on to win the set 25-11 on a kill by Damon. 

The third set looked like the first, as the set once again was tightly contested. The set was knotted up late at 20, and neither team would budge as the set went into extra points. In the extra points session, Pia Selke would take over as Selke and Reagan McLean would combine for a block to make it 26-25, UC leading. A kill by Selke gave the Golden Eagles the third set by a score of 27-25. UC then held a 2-1 lead in the match. 

With the fourth set even at five, Charleston went on a mini run to take a 14-9 lead. The Cardinals then went on a run of their own, leading 21-20. This set would once again go to extra points. This time, Sage Bearnson would leave her mark on the match by getting a kill to make the score 26-25. A Cardinal attack error gave the Golden Eagles the set 27-25 and the match 3-1. 
The Golden Eagles had dropped the last 17 matches to the Cardinals, in what had been a dominant run by the Cardinals in the MEC. Wheeling's overall MEC record all-time, including last night's statistics is 144-5. 

With this win, UC has put themselves back in the realm of potentially hosting the conference tournament. On the match, Selke had 21 kills to lead the way offensively. Maria Hernandez dished out 57 assists. Erin Carmody led defensively with 14 digs and McKenzie Carpenter had 8 blocks.

Up Next 
The Golden Eagles will take on the West Liberty Hilltoppers on Friday in West Liberty, West Virginia at 7PM.  

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