Scots Split to Open NCAC/MIAA Crossover

WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster women's volleyball team split a pair of matches to open the North Coast Athletic Conference/Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover Friday night. The Fighting Scots (3-3) went the distance in both matches, falling to The University of Olivet (24-26, 25-13, 23-25, 25-15, 15-10) before ending the night with a win over Saint Mary's College (Indiana) (25-7, 21-25, 17-25, 25-21, 16-14).

In the opening match against Olivet (5-1), the first and the third frames were tight as Wooster jumped out to strong leads early but then had to battle back late, trading points to win both sets. However, the Comets built a commanding lead in the fifth and final set that was tough for the Scots to overcome.

Senior Caroline Dillard posted a season-high tying 14 kills for the third consecutive match. Junior Tamara Turner was all over the floor, recording a double-double of 10 kills and a career-high 22 digs. First-year Emma Fleck dished out 28 assists.

Olivet's Abi Nunez led the way offensively with 15 kills, while Olivia DuFore and Morgan Dillon notched 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Teagan Giannunzio kept the offense clicking with a match-high 42 assists. Meanwhile, five different Comets recorded double-digit digs to lock down the defense.

The Scots absolutely dominated the opening set against St. Mary's (2-4), closing on a 10-0 run. The following two sets were much more tightly contested, but Wooster finally broke away in the fourth. Fleck really turned momentum in the Scots favor by dumping the ball over on the second touch to take a 23-21 lead in the frame. Overall, Turner took control of the offense in that set while timely serving ultimately put the set away as the Scots served up three aces in their final five points.

Neither team got out ahead by more than two points and then began trading points late into the set. Tied at 14 all, a St. Mary's service error followed by a Dillard service ace sealed the deal for Wooster.

Three different Scots each recorded double-digit kills, with Dillard and Turner posting identical lines of 13. Meanwhile, Turner also posted her second double-double of the day with 13 digs. Junior Amelia Mitchell had her first double-digit effort of the season with 12 kills. Senior Ty Thompson and Fleck facilitated the offense with 21 and 17 assists, respectively. Senior Trinity Harmon secured the defense with 20 digs.

Cali Allen had a game-high 17 kills and 11 digs for St. Mary's, while Delaney Martin added 11 kills of her own. Shani Russell recorded 40 assists and Bethany DiSilvestro had a match-high 24 digs.

Wooster concludes the NCAC/MIAA Crossover with a match against Alma College (4-2) on Saturday, September 9, at 10 a.m. inside Timken Gymnasium.