Cami Miller

HIRAM, Ohio – The College of Wooster volleyball team dropped a key North Coast Athletic Conference match on Saturday, as host Hiram College topped the Fighting Scots 25-11, 25-11, 25-16 at Price Gymnasium.

Wooster (10-14, 3-4 NCAC) entered the day with a chance to lock up at least the fifth seed for the upcoming NCAC Tournament. Now, Wooster finds itself in a tie for fifth-place in the conference standings with Hiram (15-11, 3-4 NCAC). Both teams have one conference match remaining.

Sophomore Katie Billetdeaux was one of Wooster's early statistical bright spots. The Scots' middle tied the first set up at four with a kill, and she teamed up with first-year Maley Tinstman on a double-block that pulled Wooster within one at 6-5. Hiram's Kiara Franks took over from there with five of her set-leading six kills coming after Wooster pulled within one.

Wooster's 6-2 run in the second set tied the set at seven. A Hiram attack error started the positive swing, while sophomore Seven Townsel's ace was the early tying point. The Terriers utilized a balanced effort to pull away down the stretch, as for the frame, Hiram had five players log at least two kills.

The Scots stayed competitive for the first half of the third set, and Wooster pulled within two four times. First-year Hayley Nash trimmed Hiram's lead to 12-10 with a kill. Next, a Terrier attack error made it a 13-11 set, and later, Hiram misfired on a serve that made it 14-12. Senior Anna Medema's kill trimmed the gap to 15-13, but that's as close as Wooster came down the stretch.

Medema's eight kills marked the team-high, while first-year Sydney Fitzcharles led Wooster with 10 digs.

Franks' 12 kills marked the match-high, while Hiram's Mackenzie Brannon led all players with 15 digs.

Next, Wooster's at home one final time, as the Scots host Allegheny College (5-19, 0-7 NCAC) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29.