Erica Skillman

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster got a strong performance from its seniors on "Senior Night," as Catherine Benton, Paige Parker, Erica Skillman, and Zoe Zwegat combined to total 45 of the Fighting Scots' season-high 69 kills in a marathon 3-2 victory over Ohio Wesleyan University on Friday evening in North Coast Athletic Conference volleyball action at Timken Gymnasium.

The Scots (8-18, 2-4 NCAC) have now won three in a row at home, but this one came down to the wire, as the Battling Bishops (9-16, 0-7 NCAC) were ahead by game-point, 14-13, in the fifth set. That's when the seniors took over, as Parker delivered a kill to tie the set at 14-14, and then Benton smashed back-to-back kills to give Wooster a dramatic 16-14 triumph.

Wooster led 23-21 late in the first game, but the Bishops scored four straight points to steal the set 25-23. The Scots won sets two and three decisively, 25-16 and 25-18, only to see Ohio Wesleyan eke out the fourth set 26-24, despite Wooster coming back from an early seven-point deficit (4-11) to make for an exciting finish.

Skillman led the group with a season-high 16 kills, including seven in the third set, with a .364 hitting percentage, while Parker and newcomer Lydia Webster added 11 kills apiece. Next in line were Benton and Zwegat, each with nine, with Benton's being a season-high.

The setters were on target tonight, with Brittany Nicholson reaching 30 assists for the first time in her career, and Rachel Sell coming up just two assists shy of her of her personal best with 23.

Kaitlin Banko stood out defensively, with 17 digs to go along with two service aces and two back-row kills.

The Scots' defense also reached double-figures in blocks for the seventh time this season, this time with 11, and Zwegat (8 block assists) and Webster (5 block assists) led the way.

Tomorrow, Wooster will play a tri-match against Oberlin College (9-14, 3-3 NCAC) and Adrian College (9-15) beginning at 1 p.m. at Oberlin, Ohio.