Wooster Falls to Wittenberg in Four Sets

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The College of Wooster volleyball team extended its match with Wittenberg University to a fourth set before falling 25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22 on Tuesday evening at Pam Evans Smith Arena.

Senior Amelia Mitchell and junior Izzy Cozzie were the catalysts behind Wooster (12-15, 1-5 NCAC) taking the third set off Wittenberg (13-8, 4-2 NCAC). The duo combined for nine kills and did not have an error between them in the frame. Wooster as a team put away 14 kills on 36 swings with just one error for a .361 attack percentage in set three.

Sophomore Jordan Laraway's kill tied set three at 20, and Mitchell's fourth kill of the set retied the score at 21. Wooster took the lead for good on Clare O'Malley's service error before Mitchell's fifth kill of the frame brought Wooster to set point. Wittenberg misfired again at the service line for the final point of the set.

Earlier, Wooster jumped out to an 8-2 lead in set one. Laraway was a tough serve for Wittenberg's back row, firing off consecutive aces as part of Wooster's early 5-0 run. However, Wittenberg recovered with an 8-0 stretch to take the lead in the opening frame.

Wooster again started strong in set two. Mitchell finished three early kills as part of Wooster's opening 6-1 span. The Scots led as late as 9-8, with Cozzie's kill marking the last positive Wooster point with the Scots leading set two.

Senior Tamara Turner stuffed the stat sheet with seven digs and five kills in the fourth set. One of Turner's fourth-set kills pulled Wooster within 18-17, and the Scots took the lead at 19-18 following consecutive Mitchell aces. Wittenberg took the lead at 20-19, while the Scots tied the score at 20 on Turner's second-to-last kill of the match.

Mitchell led all players with 15 kills and three solo blocks. Cozzie followed with 11 kills, which were tied for the second-most in the match with Wittenberg's Alana Bartulovic.

Senior Lucy Kinser's 21 digs were followed by Turner's 19. Sophomore Emma Fleck passed out 26 assists, while Laraway's five serves went on the log as the top total on the night.

Kait Colahan backed Bartulovic up with 10 kills. Ally White was kept busy as the libero, evidenced by 30 digs.

Next, Wooster travels to Oberlin College (4-16, 1-5 NCAC) for a 1 p.m. match on Saturday, November 2. The winner secures the sixth seed for the upcoming six-team NCAC Tournament.