MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Facing off against the two-time defending National Champions, who've lost just three sets in 20 matches coming into tonight, the Wesleyan volleyball team gave Juniata their best shot but still came up short in a three-set sweep (25-21, 25-13, 25-18) on Friday night. With the defeat, the Cardinals (12-7) see their 16-match home winning streak come to an end while the Eagles (21-0) have won 83 straight matches dating back to 2022.
 
Juniata jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set and led by as many as nine points before the Cardinals clawed their way back in behind an 8-2 run that forced the Eagles into a timeout. Wesleyan continued to push closer, winning three straight points to lower the deficit to 22-20, but Juniata withstood the fight back and won three of the final four points to make the opening set 25-21.
 
The Eagles did very little wrong in the second set, hitting .519 for the game with 17 kills on just 27 attempts. Wesleyan still managed to trail in the set by just two points at 12-10 before the Eagles won 13 of the final 16 points to take a 25-13 second set win.
 
It was back-and-forth in the early stages of the third set, with Wesleyan ultimately taking a 7-5 lead. Juniata fought back with a 7-2 run and later led 17-12 before three unanswered Cardinal points make it 17-15 Eagles. The two sides traded two-point runs and with the margin 19-17 in favor of Juniata, the Eagles closed the match out with a 6-1 run to take a sweep-clinching 25-18 set win.
 
Elliana Moreno '27 was incredible in defeat, racking up a match-high 18 digs including 13 in the first set alone. Michelle Jorba '25 hit .318 with eight kills and just one error on 22 attempts. India Clark '28 managed five kills on 13 attempts, hitting .308 against the Eagles. Fiona LaCamera '27 added six total blocks, including three solos.
 
Olivia Foley engineered the Juniata offense at the setter position, finishing with 34 assists, five kills on six attempts (.833 attack percentage), and five digs. Kennedy Christy led the Eagles with 11 kills, hitting .364, while Sydney Ohl led the back row with 11 digs.
 
Wesleyan is back at home again tomorrow at 4:30 PM for a match against No. 19 ranked Ithaca from Silloway Gymnasium.