Scots Cruise Past Earlham 3-0

WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster volleyball team used a balanced attack to power past North Coast Athletic Conference rival Earlham College, sweeping the Quakers in straight sets (25-9, 25-21, 25-19) Friday evening inside Timken Gymnasium.

The Fighting Scots (14-10, 8-2 NCAC) edged out to a 3-2 lead in set number one, and opened up a 13-2 lead on a 10-0 run, and never looked back in pulling out the 16-point win. The Scots cruised the second and third games thanks to large runs, with Earlham (3-20, 1-8 NCAC) unable to find any answers for the Scots' all-around offensive and defensive prowess.

Both aspects of the Scot game seemed to be in tune, with the front line unleashing a powerful attack and shutting down any form of Quaker offense, and the back row, led by libero Ali Drushal, digging up most would-be Quaker scoring threats.

Junior KateLynn Riley's 10 kills led the Scot attack during her all-around match that also featured two block solos and six assisted blocks. The freshman duo of Sarah Hawke and Meredith Kiefer smashed four kills apiece, while Hawke was a force at the net recording seven block assists and Kiefer chipping in with one. Freshman setter Lizzi Beal led the Scots' offense with 23 assists, adding four kills and seven digs in the straight-set victory. Rounding out the Scot arsenal was the tandem of freshman Kate Brady and junior Sarah Lorch with three kills each.

Drushal took charge of Wooster's defense, registering 18 digs, while classmate Megan Earle and sophomore Amanda Gottesman both wound up with eight digs, respectively.

Next up for Wooster will be a tri-match with NCAC power Wittenberg College and Ohio Athletic Conference force Heidelberg College on Saturday inside Timken Gymnasium. The Scots will take on Wittenberg at 11 a.m., and then will be off for a match as Wittenberg goes head-to-head with Heidelberg at 1 p.m. The Scots will resume action at 3 p.m. to face-off against Heidelberg.