Ashley Plassard

WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster volleyball team rallied back from a six-point deficit in the first set to briefly take the lead, but it would be Denison University who would come through with the 27-25, 25-12, 25-19 sweep on Wednesday evening inside Timken Gymnasium.

Junior Lydia Webster sparked the first set rally with the College down 20-14 with a kill. Back-to-back kills off the arm of sophomore Ksenia Klue, helped key a 5-0 swing that put Wooster (11-12, 0-7 North Coast Athletic Conference) in front 22-21.Two rallies later, a kill from Sydney Virgin at the setter position put the Fighting Scots back on top 23-22. Klue's set-high fifth kill would give the Wooster a set point, but the Big Red (12-9, 4-2 NCAC) converted on the ensuring sideout before holding on to take the opening frame.

Elena Lein heated up in the second set for Denison with eight kills on 10 swings with no errors. The Big Red were aided by a trio of 3-0 runs to gradually put distance between the two programs.

Two straight double-blocks from juniors Anna Emmick and Megan Mey gave the College a spark in the third set, as Wooster would rattle off four straight points. However, Denison remained comfortably ahead as Wooster would only cut Denison's lead to five.

Klue led the Scots on the night with eight kills. Emmick, Webster, and first-year Ashley Plassard would each record three blocks in the contest.

Tonight was Wooster's seventh-annual "Academic Success Night". The College had four players named to the NCAC Academic Honor Roll and seven to the Dean's List for the last academic year. Tonight's match was also the first at home after six straight on the road.

Wooster returns to the road for a 7 p.m. contest at Marietta College (9-14) on Friday.