2017 NCAA Atlantic Regional Team Championship Photo
The Gannon women's volleyball team is headed to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time since 1993.
3
Winner Gannon University GAN 31-6
0
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 33-6
Winner
Gannon University GAN
31-6
3
Final
0
Wheeling Jesuit WJU
33-6
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Gannon University GAN 25 25 25 (3)
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 20 14 17 (0)

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vs. Regis University

12/7/2017 | 3:40 PM EST

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Dec. 07 (Thu) / 3:40 PM EST
vs. Regis University

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Women's Volleyball Team Advances to NCAA Elite Eight with Historic Sweep at No. 24 Wheeling Jesuit

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: Gannon 3, at No. 24 Wheeling Jesuit 0
  • Set Scores: 25-20, 25-14, 25-17
  • Records: Gannon (31-6), Wheeling Jesuit (33-6)
  • Location: Wheeling, W.Va. - Alma Grace McDonough Center
  • The Short Story: The Gannon women's volleyball team stunned No. 24 Wheeling Jesuit with a 3-0 sweep Saturday night in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional championship match, advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 1993. The Lady Knights ended Wheeling Jesuit's streak of 26 consecutive set wins in NCAA Atlantic Regional play dating back to 2014. The Cardinals had won 20 straight NCAA Atlantic Regional matches overall dating back to 2010 while winning six consecutive regional titles.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon showed its strength early, snapping a 2-2 tie in the first set with an 8-2 run. Senior Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio/Solon) and freshman Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) had two kills each during the blitz that gave the visitors a 10-4 lead.
  • Wheeling Jesuit cut the deficit to three on two occasions, including the final time at 14-11.
  • Gannon responded with five straight points to take control 19-11 and force the Cardinals to call time-out. Sophomore Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) finished two attacks for points, before another Kerestes kill gave the Lady Knights an eight-point advantage.
  • Wheeling Jesuit climbed back within 23-20, but Gannon countered with consecutive blocks to secure a 25-20 victory in the first set.
  • The two teams were even through the early portion of the second set, before Gannon pulled away at a steady pace. Leading 6-5, the Lady Knights scored three straight points.
  • Holding a 12-8 advantage, Gannon ripped off another mini 4-0 run. Kills from redshirt senior Rebekah Smith (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) combined with a pair of Wheeling Jesuit hitting errors helped double the difference at 16-8.
  • The Cardinals were never able to get closer than six points the rest of the way, before the Lady Knights posted a convincing 25-14 win in set two.
  • Gannon remained hot at the onset of the third set, winning the first three points.
  • Wheeling Jesuit fought back to create ties at five, six and eight.
  • The Cardinals manufactured a 4-1 run to assume their first sizable lead of the evening at 12-9.
  • Wheeling Jesuit still held a three-point lead at 15-12 when Gannon caught fire again. Two kills by Rebekah Smith (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and two Cardinal hitting errors pushed the Lady Knights back in front 16-15.
  • Tied at 16, Gannon dominated the remainder of the set while winning nine of the final 10 points. The tie was initially broken with a 7-0 blitz, highlighted by four Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) kills.
  • Moments later, Kerestes finished back-to-back kills to clinch a 25-17 win in set three and 3-0 sweep of Wheeling Jesuit.

GAME NOTES
  • Gannon out-hit Wheeling Jesuit in every set, finishing with a .263-.048 overall edge.
  • The Lady Knights held advantages in kills (43-34), assists (41-34) and blocks (10-7).
  • Wheeling Jesuit countered with a 56-52 edge in digs.
  • The two teams combined to record only three service aces.
  • Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) was the only Lady Knight with double-digit kills, producing 13 compared to only three errors in 32 attacks. The result was a .312 hitting percentage.
  • Freshman Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) dished out 36 of Gannon's 41 assists. She recorded her fourth consecutive double-double and sixth overall with 10 digs.
  • Sophomore Toni Leitshuh (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) topped all Lady Knights with 11 digs.
  • Kerestes had a team-high seven blocks and six kills.
  • The championship match featured nine ties and three lead changes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon advanced to its fourth NCAA Division II Elite Eight in program history and first since 1993. The program played in three consecutive Elite Eights from 1991-93.
  • The Lady Knights were making their second Sweet Sixteen appearance in three years and their ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
  • Wheeling Jesuit had won 26 straight sets in NCAA Atlantic Regional play dating back to 2014 until Gannon won Saturday's first set. California (Pa.) was the last team to win a set from the Cardinals when it won the second set of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship on November 22, 2014.
  • Gannon snapped Wheeling Jesuit's 20-match win streak in NCAA Atlantic Regional play dating back to 2010. The Cardinals had won six consecutive NCAA Atlantic Regional championships. Their last loss in the NCAA Atlantic Regional came at the hands of Clarion in the 2010 regional semifinals.
  • The Lady Knights became the first program in the Atlantic Region to sweep Wheeling Jesuit at any point of the season since at least 2010. Wheeling Jesuit web archives are incomplete prior to the 2011 season.
  • Wheeling Jesuit is ranked No. 24 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll.
  • Gannon has won 31 matches in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
  • The Lady Knights have won at least 30 matches in a season for the sixth time.
  • This year's 31 victories tie last year's total for the third-most single-season wins in school history. 

UP NEXT
  • The NCAA Division II Elite Eight is scheduled for December 7-9 in Pensacola, Florida.
  • The University of West Florida and Pensacola Sports will serve as the hosts.
  • Gannon's opponent in the NCAA Quarterfinals has yet to be determined. Teams are reseeded for the Elite Eight.
  • Elite Eight match-ups, start times, viewing outlets and complete details will be released at a later date.
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Players Mentioned

Kelsey Ansec

#4 Kelsey Ansec

OH
6' 1"
Senior
Education
Toni Leitshuh

#18 Toni Leitshuh

OH
5' 9"
Sophomore
Biology
Ally Smith

#11 Ally Smith

OH
5' 9"
Sophomore
Early Childhood Education
Rebekah Smith

#14 Rebekah Smith

RS
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Physical Therapy
Ashley Beyers

#5 Ashley Beyers

S
5' 11"
Freshman
Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Biology
Ashley Kerestes

#22 Ashley Kerestes

MB
6' 0"
Freshman
Physician Assistant/Nursing

Players Mentioned

Kelsey Ansec

#4 Kelsey Ansec

6' 1"
Senior
Education
OH
Toni Leitshuh

#18 Toni Leitshuh

5' 9"
Sophomore
Biology
OH
Ally Smith

#11 Ally Smith

5' 9"
Sophomore
Early Childhood Education
OH
Rebekah Smith

#14 Rebekah Smith

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Physical Therapy
RS
Ashley Beyers

#5 Ashley Beyers

5' 11"
Freshman
Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Biology
S
Ashley Kerestes

#22 Ashley Kerestes

6' 0"
Freshman
Physician Assistant/Nursing
MB