Volleyball's Riley and Beal Earn all-NCAC Accolades

Following its second consecutive 20-win season, The College of Wooster volleyball team had two individuals selected to the all-North Coast Athletic Conference Team, highlighted by senior middle hitter KateLynn Riley who claimed NCAC Player of the Year honors and a second-straight first-team selection. Sophomore setter Lizzi Beal, who was named an honorable mention last season, made it back again, this time earning second-team accolades.

The announcement was made on Saturday by the league office in conjunction with the NCAC Tournament championship match.

Riley's selection as NCAC Player of the Year makes her only the second in Wooster history, and the first in 25 years, to receive the award (Karen Light, 1984). The senior had a remarkable season, leading the conference in kills (443), points (539), and hitting percentage (.352), while tallying the second most blocks per set (1.05). Her place in Fighting Scots' history was cemented during the season, as she moved into second-place on the all-time kills list (1,519), and fifth in blocks (327). Her .352 hitting percentage was the second-highest single season mark ever, and her 34-kill match against Oberlin College (Oct. 17) was the highest by any NCAA Div. III player this season.

Helping setup Riley along the way was Beal, who was second in the league in assists per set (9.42) and finished with 961 assists, her second-straight season topping the 950-plateau. Following a freshman season in which she was named NCAC Newcomer of the Year, Beal produced another noteworthy campaign, recording 32 service aces, 263 digs, and 83 kills, to go along with her gaudy assist totals. Twice during the season she totaled over 50 assists in a match, and in nine matches she went over 40, highlighted by a 52-asssit effort against Ohio Wesleyan (Oct. 17).

For the year, the Scots went 21-10, their fifth 20-win campaign this decade. Wooster entered the NCAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed, but dropped its semifinal match with No. 2 seed Hiram College on Friday night. Riley, who totaled nine kills in the loss, was named to the all-tournament team.