Mayia Karayianni

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster played better and better as the night went on, but it wasn't enough to stop Hiram College and its potent hitting attack, as the Fighting Scots lost in three sets Friday evening in a North Coast Athletic Conference volleyball match-up at Timken Gymnasium.

The Scots (5-14, 0-3 NCAC) scored 12 and 13 points in the first and second sets, respectively, but then came alive with 18 points in a closely-contested third set that could have went either way. Wooster took an 8-7 lead in that set, but Hiram (15-3, 3-0 NCAC) gained control to go ahead 18-11, only to see the Scots claw right back into it. Using a 5-3 scoring run that included three kills from Savannah Moore, Wooster pulled within 21-16, although Hiram weathered the storm on its way to a 25-18 victory.

The key to the match was Hiram's .430 hitting percentage, which was quarterbacked by setter Tierra Moore and her 41 assists.

The Scots' hitters were solid in the third set, with 13 kills on 38 swings, but it wasn't quite enough to turn the tables on the 15-win Terriers.

Moore and Lydia Webster tied for the team-lead with seven kills apiece, while Megan Mey (4 kills) and Mayia Karayianni (3 kills) were next in line statistically. All 24 of Wooster's kills on the night were assisted, with Brittany Nicholson (11 assists) and Sydney Virgin (9 assists) getting the lion's share. Also noteworthy, newcomer Rebecca Grunder, who had been sidelined with an injury, made her first appearance of the season and totaled a kill and a dig.

Wooster will take a break from conference play next week against two non-league foes, beginning with a trip to Gallaudet University (10-10) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.