WHEELING, W.Va. – The Gannon volleyball team opened PSAC/MEC Crossover play with a strong defensive effort and timely blocking, earning a 3-0 sweep over Wheeling on Thursday evening at the Alma Grace McDonough Center.
The Golden Knights won by scores of 25-20, 25-23 and 25-17 to improve to 5-2 on the season. Gannon held Wheeling to a .040 hitting percentage while finishing with 20 block assists and 58 digs.
Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) led a balanced Gannon attack with nine kills without an error on 17 attempts for a .529 hitting percentage.
Carlee Webber (Anamosa, IA/Marion) and
Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) each added eight kills, while
Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) directed the offense with 37 assists.
Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy) paced the defense with 18 digs.
"It was a good defense effort that made the difference tonight," head coach
Matt Darling said. "Our blocking, especially in the third set, gave us points at important moments. These matches against Wheeling are always battles, so we feel happy to get a win."
THE GAME FACTS
Score: Gannon 3, Wheeling 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-17)
Records: Gannon 5-2, Wheeling 3-5
Location: Alma Grace McDonough Center | Wheeling, W.Va.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026
THE KNIGHT CAP
- Second Sweep: The Golden Knights recorded their second straight-set victory of the season and improved to 5-2 overall.
- Turning the Tables: Gannon avenged last season's 3-1 loss to Wheeling, returning to the Alma Grace McDonough Center and earning a 3-0 sweep of the Cardinals.
- Closing the Gap: With Thursday's victory, Gannon improved to 9-10 all-time against Wheeling.
- Wake Leads the Attack: Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) finished with a team-high nine kills without an attack error, hitting .529 on 17 attempts.
- Defense Makes the Difference: Gannon limited Wheeling to 29 kills and a .040 hitting percentage for the match.
- Strong at the Net: The Golden Knights totaled 20 block assists, with Brooke Gwiazda (Frankfort, Ill./Peotone) leading the way with six and Carlee Webber (Anamosa, IA/Marion) adding five.
- Fowler Paces the Back Row: Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy) collected a team-high 18 digs, while Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) added 11.
- Gainer Directs the Offense: Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) handed out 37 of Gannon's 42 assists while also recording eight digs.
- Balanced Production: Wake led Gannon with nine kills, while Webber and Williams each finished with eight and Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) added seven.
- Claxon From the Line: Addi Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) recorded a match-high three service aces as Gannon finished with seven as a team.
- Golden Knights Close It Out: Gannon controlled the third set 25-17 to complete the straight-set road victory.
Up Next
Gannon continues play at the PSAC/MEC Crossover on Friday, Sept. 11, taking on West Virginia State at 11:00 a.m. in Wheeling, W.Va.
This story was written using the support of AI.
