Melissa Morgan

Complete NCAC Weekend Schedule and Results

WOOSTER, Ohio – Oberlin College was hungry to pick up its first victory of the season and it showed, as they pushed The College of Wooster to the brink in all three sets, but came up short each time in a 25-22, 25-22, 25-19 decision Saturday morning in the opening match of a North Coast Athletic Conference volleyball weekend.

Wooster (16-7, 6-4 NCAC) and Oberlin (0-20, 0-9 NCAC) went back-and-forth to start the first set, until Kelley Johnson served three points in a row, and made some tough back row digs, to turn a 7-7 tie into a 10-7 advantage. The Scots eventually jumped out to a 16-12 lead, but Oberlin's Laura Jesse served her team back to 18-18. Down the stretch, Lizzi Beal and Catherine Benton went in on a big block, and Melissa Morgan put some spin on a pair of kills, giving the Scots a 25-22 opening set victory.

The Yeowomen got out to an early 6-2 lead in the second set, but the Scots battled back and Morgan smashed down a kill that gave Wooster a slight 10-9 lead. Like the first set, this one came down to just a couple points in the end, as Wooster was ahead by just 22-20 in the closing moments. It was at that juncture that Lizzi Beal delivered a quick, low set that Zoe Zwegat blasted for a kill, and later, a Zwegat solo block and a Johnson serve that dropped just over the net provided Wooster with its final points in another 25-22 win.

Finally, in the third set, Wooster built itself a comfortable 13-6 cushion that helped it pull away. Late in the set, Maddie Flynn served a point and then made a great hustle play in the back court to keep Oberlin at bay. In the end, Erica Skillman delivered two powerful kills from the right side to give Wooster the set and the match.

Overall, Paige Parker and Morgan paced Wooster with nine kills apiece, and Zwegat (7) and Skillman (6) were also active. Parker also led the team with four service aces, while Beal dished out 22 assists and Johnson recorded 13 digs.

The Scots will be back in action later today at 4 p.m. against Allegheny College.