Mitchell Leads Wooster at Ohio Wesleyan

DELAWARE, Ohio – Junior Amelia Mitchell was a force at the net, finishing with five blocks, three of which were the solo variety, during Ohio Wesleyan University's 26-24, 25-15, 25-14 win over The College of Wooster volleyball team on Wednesday evening at Branch Rickey Arena.

Wooster (7-12, 0-5 North Coast Athletic Conference) worked out of a 5-0 hole in the first set. Senior Troy Johnson's kill came in the midst of a 5-1 Wooster run, and a bad set on Ohio Wesleyan's (17-4, 4-0 NCAC) side of the court tied the opening frame at seven.

Ohio Wesleyan was pulling away again when a timely kill from senior Caroline Dillard sparked a 5-0 Wooster rally. Wooster took its first lead of the night at 12-11 when Mitchell and first-year Jordan Laraway denied Grace Cummings at the net. Mitchell's first solo block of the night came when matched up against Mila Noel, and that gave Wooster a 16-15 lead.

Wooster's lead was two at 18-16 and 19-17, thanks to kills by sophomore Tamara Turner and Johnson. However, Ohio Wesleyan responded with a 5-0 stretch, capped by consecutive Neah White service aces to take the lead back. Wooster tied the set at 23 on an Ohio Wesleyan attack error and again at 24 on Laraway's kill before Ohio Wesleyan scored two points to take set one.

Mitchell was Wooster's bright spot in set two, putting away four kills on six swings. The junior's solo block had Wooster within 6-5, and a kill from the middle had the Scots back within one moments later.

Ohio Wesleyan gradually pulled away down the stretch in set three, with three instances of at least three consecutive points growing the Battling Bishops' lead. Prior to that, an Ohio Wesleyan service error and a Turner kill had Wooster within one twice.

Dillard's seven kills led Wooster, while Mitchell had six to go with the quintet of tallies in the blocking column. Senior Trinity Harmon's 14 digs were tops on the team, and the Scots' libero kept all 18 Bishop serves sent her way in play.

Melissa Murray and Kaitlyn Peters were offensive juggernauts for Ohio Wesleyan, combining for 18 kills on 38 swings with just one error between them. Peters' 15 digs were the match-high and she kept 26-of-27 Wooster serves in play.

Next, Wooster heads to Kenyon College (3-17, 0-4 NCAC) for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday, October 21.