Taylor Mathews

The College of Wooster volleyball team pulled out of a two-set hole, and a wild fifth set featured eight ties and four lead changes, before Kenyon College prevailed 25-10, 25-15, 17-25, 16-25, 15-12 on Wednesday evening at Tomsich Arena in Gambier, Ohio.

Three aces by Kenyon's (16-9, 5-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) Rachael Thorson helped the Ladies open up an 11-point lead midway through the first set. As a team, Kenyon recorded an immediate sideout on eight of its 10 initial sideout chances in the frame. Senior Lydia Webster led the way for Wooster (17-8, 2-6 NCAC) in the frame with three kills and two digs.

In the second set, Wooster was within three at 14-11 thanks to back-to-back kills from senior Anna Emmick and Webster that kick-started a 4-0 run. Later in the frame, Alexi Donnelly helped close out the set for Kenyon with two kills that came as part of a 4-0 Lady run.

Next, two aces from junior Taylor Mathews, and a pair of blocks, first by sophomore Marija Cyvas and Webster, and then by junior Ksenia Klue and Webster helped stake Wooster to an 11-1 lead in the third set. Later in the set, three kills by Emmick helped shut down what was a lengthy Kenyon run, and later, a 5-0 Wooster run helped close out the frame.

In the fourth set, Mathews served up two more aces, and Cyvas was in on two blocks, as Wooster raced out to an 11-2 lead. Wooster's success continued later on in the frame with Mathews at the service line as the Scots rattled off a 4-0 run to extend the lead to 18-6.

Then, midway through the fifth set, the Scots rattled off a 4-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. Down 8-6, Wooster's block came through yet again with Emmick being in on back-to-back swats, first with freshman Kyana Harris, and then with Klue. A 5-0 run quickly gave the momentum back to Kenyon, enabling the Ladies to close out the match.

Webster continued her recent string of stellar play with 15 kills on the night, while hitting .538. Notable, the senior surpassed 900 kills in the match, and is three away from a top-10 total in the program annals.

Backing Webster up in the attacking department were Emmick (12 kills) and Klue (10 kills).

Sophomores Gabrielle Basinski and Jordan Murray led the way for the defense, combining for 37 digs on the night.

Of note, Mathews finished the match with seven aces, the most by a Scot in a match this season.

Kenyon had three student-athletes in double figures in kills in Mackenzie Bruzzio (15), Donnelly (12), and Delaney Swanson (10), and all three had double-doubles on the night.

Next, Wooster tunes up for the NCAC Tournament with its regular-season finale versus Case Western Reserve University (18-8) at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Timken Gymnasium.