Katie Billetdeaux

Mayia Karagianni

WOOSTER, Ohio – Senior Mayia Karagianni came through with a major save on match point, and The College of Wooster volleyball team held off Oberlin College 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 17-15 on Tuesday evening at Timken Gymnasium.

Oberlin's (4-10, 0-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) Lexi Mitchell appeared to be on the verge of logging her match-high seventh service ace after Wooster (12-6, 1-1 NCAC) couldn't get a good handle on the reception. Karagianni hustled to the centerline outside the net and saved the volleyball backwards to senior Gabrielle Basinski, who sent a free ball over to the Yeowomen. After Oberlin wasn't able to capitalize, Karagianni tapped down the Yeowomen's overpass and tied the score at 15.

From there, senior Marija Cyvas' kill made it match point Wooster, and Oberlin's Maura Gibbs' ensuing attack attempt sailed long.

A few points earlier, first-year Katie Billetdeaux won a 50-50 ball at the net for her seventh kill of the night, and that made it match point for Wooster at 14-12. Mitchell, who smashed down a match-high 21 kills responded with a kill to pull the Yeowomen within one and a Scots' attacking error tied the score at 14.

Earlier in the match, Oberlin was nipping at Wooster's heels in the first set after a kill by Jaya Flynn-Young tied the opening set at 18. Kills by Karagianni and Cyvas book-ended a 4-0 Wooster run that also featured a key double-block by Cyvas and sophomore Meghan Botsch. Cyvas' fourth kill of the frame made it set point, and an Oberlin attack error rounded out the scoring plays in the first set.

Oberlin's Mitchell took over in the second set with three straight kills to close the frame, and overall, the Yeowomen's junior had six kills on eight swings and three blocks.

Wooster bounced back with a quick start 4-0 start in the third set, and rode Karagianni's hot hand to the win. The Scots' senior accounted for six of Wooster's 11 kills in the set. Oberlin was within one as late as 21-20 in the third set, but three straight Yeowomen errors bumped the Scots' lead out to four.

The fourth set featured a series of back-and-forth runs. First, Wooster rattled off five straight points, two of which came on Billetdeaux kills, to open up a 7-2 led. Next, Oberlin stormed back with a 10-1 run to pull in front 16-13. Wooster responded with a 4-0 stretch, thanks in large part to two more Billetdeaux kills, and the Scots snuck ahead at 19-18 on Cyvas' kill. However, Mitchell served up back-to-back aces as part of the decisive 6-0 run late in the fourth set.

Cyvas and senior Eleri Miller led Wooster with 11 kills each, while Karagianni was right behind with 10. Defensively, Basinski tallied a match-high 20 digs, while senior Ashley Plassard logged six blocks, including four solo swats.

Flynn-Young backed up Mitchell's match-high 21 kills with 10 while Emily Kelkar paced the Yeowomen with 18 digs.

Next, Wooster travels to Ohio Wesleyan University (8-9, 2-1 NCAC) for a 7 p.m. match on Friday.