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| Lydia Webster |
The College of Wooster volleyball team faced off against another tough opponent in Hiram College, winners of a mid-week tilt over nationally-ranked Case Western Reserve University, and the Fighting Scots rose to the occasion, nearly pushing the Terriers to a fifth set in dropping the North Coast Athletic Conference match by scores of 25-18, 25-21, 21-25, 25-23 on Friday evening in Hiram, Ohio.
Hiram's (16-6, 4-2 NCAC) Katie Barton was on fire from the get-go, recording nine of her match-high 19 kills in the first set. She tallied three kills and a block during a crucial 6-0 run that opened the lead up to eight at 18-10.
A kill followed by an ace from Ksenia Klue of Wooster (11-11, 0-6 NCAC) tied the second set at 16. The Scots grabbed a one-point lead at 18-17 after a kill from Savannah Moore, and she teamed up with Lydia Webster on a double-block to again hand them a lead at 19-18. The Terriers answered with three-straight points to take the set lead for good.
Wooster, which trailed early in the third frame, got back on track with a 5-0 run, keyed by solo blocks from Moore and Webster as well as a service ace from Anna Emmick. The Scots also rallied late with a double-block from Emmick and Ashley Plassard for a 21-20 advantage, and Emmick capped the frame with a kill.
In the fourth set, Webster made Wooster's deficit one at 16-15 and 17-16 before Hiram rattled off three-straight points to gain control. The Scots again closed to one at 23-22 and 24-23, however, the Terriers were able to close it out.
Webster led Wooster with 17 kills on the evening, and defensively, Gabrielle Basinski's produced a team-high 18 digs.
After six-straight matches on the road, the Scots will be home Wednesday, taking on Denison University (10-9, 2-2 NCAC) at 7 p.m.