Volleyball Hopes to Keep Momentum From Last Season's NCAC Tourney Run

Last year's Cinderella run in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament is all but forgotten for The College of Wooster volleyball team. Now, they will look to replicate its late season success heading into the 2022 fall season.

Wooster went 20-9 last year and 4-4 in NCAC play before reaching the NCAC Tournament title match as the fifth seed. It was the program's third appearance in the title match and first since 1985.

The team got there by knocking off top-seeded Denison University in the semifinal, which was the program's first semifinal berth since 2012. The Scots just could not get through Wittenberg University in the title match.

"I think we want to start where we left off last season, and challenge everyone in the conference," head coach Sarah Davis said. "Night in and night out I think any time you play an NCAC match it's going to be a great battle."

Wooster's 15-player roster are all returnees. Wooster graduated two All-NCAC selections in Katie Billetdeaux and Syd Case but retain Hayley Nash who enters her senior campaign.

Nash, who was the first repeat first-team conference selection for the program since 2008-09, led the NCAC with 432 kills. She had six 20-kill matches before the NCAC Tournament and is one of two in program history to have two 300 kill seasons.

Nash will have plenty of backup, including fellow outside hitter and senior Emily Gail. Gail was third on the team a year ago with 220 kills.

And Davis believes the team will be at its best on defense.

Junior Trinity Harmon will be a top defensive specialist, and senior Sydney Fitzcharles remains the team's starting libero. The team also has good defensive depth in senior Maley Tinstman, sophomores Lucy Kinser, Hayley Heideman and junior Ellie Stroke.

Olivia Kitchen will provide depth to the outside hitters.

The right side should provide strong blocking from Amelia Mitchell, Troy Johnson, Ainsley Wiesner and Tamara Turner. Davis notes Turner, an Orville product, has shown good promise in the middle and quickness in closing the block in the early goings.

Junior Tyara Thompson will play a setting role this year as she and classmate Caroline Dillard should see more opportunities.

"We'll see how quickly our offense can come together," Davis said. "We're not a real big team so we will continue to play scrappy defense, keep the ball alive and look to score in transition."

Wooster opens play the weekend of Sept. 2 with the Mount Union Invitational. They face the host Raiders to open the season and then another Ohio Athletic Conference foe on Saturday in Otterbein University.

Otterbein was recently picked to win the OAC by league coaches. The Cardinals advanced to last year's NCAA Round of 16.

"We have a really competitive non-conference schedule to prepare us for the competitive conference schedule," Davis added. "We'll be testing ourselves early in preparation, and we're excited to once again host the Ginny Hunt Kilt Classic (Sept. 16-17) and to play in front of our families and alumni."

Wooster's first home match is Sept. 7 against Capital University. They open NCAC play against the expected top two teams and the teams they met late in last year's tournament. They face Wittenberg on Sept. 24 then Denison on Oct. 1.