Taylor Mathews

The College of Wooster drew a tough opponent to kick-start North Coast Athletic Conference play as the Fighting Scots fell in straight sets at DePauw University 25-15, 25-21, 25-14 on Saturday afternoon in Greencastle, Ind.

DePauw, (10-5, 2-0 NCAC) fresh off a sweep over 12th-ranked Milliken University on Thursday, lived up to the preseason billing of the No. 2 spot in the NCAC's coaches' poll, as the Tigers hit a season-high .333 in the match.

Wooster, (11-8, 0-1 NCAC) which took DePauw to five sets in last year's regular season meeting, was neck-and-neck with the Tigers early in the first set. Senior Taylor Mathews served up back-to-back aces to pull Wooster in front 4-3. Later in the set, a kill from classmate Ksenia Klue made it 11-10 before DePauw strung together a three-point swing keyed by two consecutive kills by Morgan Stearley to take the lead for good. Mathews' play kept Wooster competitive as the senior's third ace pulled the Scots within one at 15-14, and the crafty setter snuck in a kill at 16-15 before DePauw pulled away.

In the second set, Wooster found itself down eight at 16-8, and went on to outscore DePauw 13-9 the rest of the set. Klue jump-started Wooster's late-set success with a kill with a double-block by juniors Marija Cyvas and Ashley Plassard following right after. The Scots had a 4-0 spurt at the end of the set that was sparked by a Plassard kill before a double-block by the Tigers' Meaghan Etling and Stearley closed out the frame.

Mathews' fourth ace of the match pulled Wooster within two at 8-6 in the final set of the afternoon, but DePauw stormed ahead with a 6-0 run after the ace. Other third-set highlights included three kills each from Klue and Plassard and six digs by junior Jordan Murray.

Mathews, who recorded her team-leading 11th double-double, nearly logged the Scots first triple-double in two seasons, finishing three kills shy. The senior filled the stat sheet with 17 assists, 13 digs, seven kills, and four aces.

Murray (11) and junior Gabrielle Basinski (10) joined Mathews in the double-digit digs column, while Klue matched Mathews with a co-team-high seven kills.

DePauw had double-doubles from Suzanne Peters (15 digs, 13 kills) and Stearley (13 kills, 11 digs).

Next, Wooster returns home to take on Ohio Wesleyan University (8-4, 1-1 NCAC) on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.