Lydia Webster

WOOSTER, Ohio – Senior Lydia Webster recorded a career-high 18 kills and juniors Ksenia Klueand Taylor Mathews both recorded double-doubles, but The College of Wooster volleyball team could not withstand a late surge by Hiram College during the Terrier's 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 22-25, 18-16 five-set win in a key North Coast Athletic Conference match on Saturday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium.

The first set featured six ties, including as late as 14-14 after sophomore Marija Cyvas and seniorAnna Emmick combined for a block. That point came on the heels of a kill from Webster, who paced the Fighting Scots (14-6, 2-4 NCAC) with four kills in the frame. Hiram (14-6, 3-3 NCAC) heated up from there with an ensuing 7-0 run before Wooster closed within four at 21-17 with a crafty kill from Mathewscoming in the middle of a 5-1 Wooster swing.  Wooster pulled even closer at 22-19 after an ace off the serve of senior Megan Mey.

In the second set, back-to-back kills by Webster gave Wooster a set point at 24-23, but two straight kills by Hiram, and a block by Marissa Jay and Mary Williams closed the set out for the Terriers. Webster's brace of kills came as part of a larger 5-1 run enabling Wooster to climb back from a three-point deficit.

A kill by Emmick jump-started a 3-0 stretch for Wooster in the third set, putting the Scots up five at 11-6. From there, Wooster maintained at least a four-point lead until Hiram pulled within one at 24-23 after a 5-1 burst. Wooster closed the set out with a kill from Emmick.

The Scots clicked on all cylinders early in the fourth set with kills from three different student-athletes, a block by Emmick and Klue, and a service ace by sophomore Jordan Murray leading to a 5-0 run and a 13-7 Wooster lead. Later a block by junior Mayia Karagianni and Webster pushed Wooster's lead to seven at 16-9. The Scots warded off a late surge by the Terriers with a strategic dump from Mathews knotting the match at two sets each.

A back-and-forth fifth set went Wooster's way at the midpoint as Mey connected on a pair of kills that were couple with an ace by Webster to put the Scots up 9-5. Then, kills by Karagianni and Emmick pushed the Scots lead back to four at 10-6 and 11-7. Hiram climbed back into the match with a quartet of two-point runs, and did not allow Wooster to score consecutive points for the rest of the match.  

Webster led the way with a career-high 18 kills. Notable, Webster's total marked the most turned in by a Scot since Savannah Moore had 18 against Allegheny College during the 2014 NCAC Tournament. Webster also had a big-time performance in last year's Hiram contest with a 17-kill afternoon.

Klue backed Webster up with 15 kills and 15 digs on the afternoon, while Emmick also was in double-figures with 12 kills to couple with a match-high six blocks. Mathews also notched a double-double with 52 assists and 12 digs.

Jay, who entered the weekend seventh in Div. III in kills per set, paced Hiram with 24 kills, 19 digs, and six blocks.

Next, Wooster travels to Denison University (8-13, 1-3 NCAC) for a 7 p.m. match on Wednesday.