Scots Fall to NAIA Opponents Mt. Vernon Nazarene, Malone

The College of Wooster volleyball team made a rare late-season venture into non-league play Saturday and came out on the short end against NAIA foes in Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and Malone University. The tri-match was held at Malone's campus in Canton, Ohio, and following the Malone-Mt. Vernon Nazarene match-up, Wooster fell in three sets to Mt. Vernon Nazarene (25-20, 25-21, 25-16) and was also swept by the host Pioneers (25-8, 25-16, 25-16).

In the first set versus Mt. Vernon Nazarene, Wooster (20-8) rallied for four consecutive points late, only to see the Lady Cougars take the five-point win. The second set was closely contested, too, before Mt. Vernon Nazarene pulled it out and then it cruised during the third.

Individually, KateLynn Riley had another big match for the Scots with 14 kills and just one error on 28 swings, while Erin Webster and Sarah Hawke chipped in seven and six kills, respectively. Lizzi Beal directed the offense from her setter position, picking up 31 assists, while defensively, Kelley Johnson registered 22 digs and Melissa Morgan 13.

The second match of the day was a quick one, unfortunately for Wooster as it scored just 40 total points. Bright spots included Beall's 18 assists, Johnson's 16 digs, and Riley's eight kills.

Wooster returns to North Coast Athletic Conference action Tuesday night at Kenyon College (4-26, 1-13 NCAC).