Ksenia Klue

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster battled back to erase large deficits in the first and third sets, but Oberlin College hung on to escape with a 3-0 victory over the Fighting Scots in a North Coast Athletic Conference tilt Saturday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium.

The Scots (7-18, 1-6 NCAC) got behind 19-11 in the opening set, but then strung together an exciting 9-2 scoring run, culminating in a Mayia Karayianni kill that pulled them within one point at 21-20. Wooster was behind by one again at 22-21, and by two at 24-22, both thanks to kills from Lydia Webster, but Oberlin went on to take the set 25-22.

The second set got away from Wooster, 25-15, but the third set provided plenty of back-and-forth action. The Scots raced out of the gates to a 6-1 advantage, their largest of the day, only to see the Yeowomen turn the tables en route to their own big lead, 18-11. Just like it did in the first set, Wooster rallied, this time using a 9-1 scoring run that ended with a Sydney Virgin setter dump to cut the deficit to one (20-19). Once again, though, Oberlin regained the momentum to edge the Scots 25-20.

Webster hit well with a team-high nine kills and .389 hitting percentage, while Ksenia Klue (7 kills, 6 digs) and Savannah Moore (6 kills, 8 digs) were also in the mix. Brittany Nicholson dished 15 assists, Rachel Sell had 10 digs, and Kaitlin Banko tied a season-high with eight digs.

Oberlin didn't have a player with over six kills, but used 10 service aces for an offensive boost.

Wooster will play its final road match of the regular season on Wednesday, when it faces Allegheny College (16-10, 2-4 NCAC) in a 7 p.m. start.