Seniors Turn in Big Night in Home Finale

WOOSTER, Ohio – Ksenia Klue delivered a big performance on "Senior Night" with 13 kills to move up to eighth on the program's all-time list, while classmate Taylor Mathews was just as impressive with her team-leading 17th double-double during The College of Wooster's 25-22, 25-22, 25-15 loss to Denison University in the teams' North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season finale on Wednesday evening at Timken Gymnasium.

Klue pulled Wooster (14-13, 2-6 NCAC) within two at 18-16 in the first set with her fifth kill of the frame. Of note, that marked the Medina, Ohio native's 300th of the season, and it marked the first time a Scot reached the milestone since Paige Parker and Erica Skillman did so in 2012. Later, Wooster pulled within one at 23-22 thanks to a kill by junior Marija Cyvas.

Senior Taylor Mathews logged her team-leading 17th double-double of the year.

In the second set, Denison (13-12, 5-3 NCAC) raced out to a 9-1 lead, but the Scots charged back a few moments later with an eight-point swing to tie the frame at 11. Klue played a big factor in the Scots' surge with three straight kills towards the end of the rally. Later, Wooster led as late as 16-15 after a kill by junior Eleri Miller, but a 5-1 swing shifted the momentum back in favor of the Big Red.

The third set featured eight ties and two lead changes before the Big Red's length took over at the front with Kathryn Boyd teaming up with Kaila Kasper and then Leah Reinfranck on back-to-back blocks that were part of a 4-0 swing after a Mathews' kill had Wooster in front at 10-9. A few points later, two kills by Emma Woerner book-ended a 6-0 spurt by the Big Red that bumped Denison's advantage out to 20-12.

Mathews dished out 29 assists and tallied 13 digs on the stat sheet, eight of which came in the third set. Klue's 13 kills were supported by seven digs, while junior Jordan Murray added 13 digs.

Denison was paced by Woerner's match-high 14 kills and 13 digs, while libero Kristin Thewes logged 17 digs.

Next, Wooster turns its attention to a final regular-season non-conference match as the Scots travel to Case Western Reserve University (16-10) for a 1 p.m. clash on Saturday that will serve as preparation for next week's NCAC Tournament. Official pairings for the league championship will be released by the conference office at the conclusion of all regular-season league matches.