Ethan Flack
Sports Editor
The College of Wooster volleyball team went 2-2 this past weekend as the team began its North Coast Athletic Conference schedule. The Scots (11-4, 2-2 NCAC) started the season with five straight wins and have been impressive thus far.
Wooster squared off against Kenyon College and DePauw University last Saturday. In their NCAC opening match, the Scots beat Kenyon (5-8, 0-1) in straight sets. Wooster easily controlled the first two sets, winning the first set 25-15 and the second set 25-14. In the final set, Kenyon, on the edge of defeat, attempted to rally, but Wooster responded, ending the match with a third set victory of 25-22.
Lizzi Beal ’12 recorded 11 kills and 16 assists, leading the Scots’ offensive assault. Paige Parker ’14 and Zoe Zwegat ’14 recorded six and five kills respectively. Defensively, all-NCAC honoree Kelley Johnson ’13 had 16 digs, while classmate Melissa Morgan ’13 added 12 digs.
In their second match of the day, the Scots lost a hard-fought contest with DePauw Univ. Although Wooster captured the first set 25-21, the Tigers (10-4, 1-0) were victorious, winning the next three sets in a row.
For the Scots, Beal turned in another solid overall performance registering seven kills, 20 assists and 13 digs. Parker accounted for about one-third of the team’s kills after recording 12 kills on 37 attempts. On defense, the entire team pitched in, with Wooster making 57 total digs and recording nine blocks.
On Sunday, the Scots looked to get back on track against rival Wittenberg University. Wooster struggled offensively as Wittenberg (11-1, 3-0) raced to victory in straight sets. The Scots only managed 21 kills on 92 attempts. Johnson again led the team on defense, making 13 digs.
Wooster quickly rebounded, winning their next match against Hiram College (13-6, 2-2) in four sets. After taking the first set, Wooster dropped the second set to the Terriers. The Scots fought back with a win in the third set, before claiming victory after a long fourth set.
Johnson turned in an unbelievable performance as she made 26 digs, while Parker and Zwegat each registered over 10 kills. Autumn Berry ’14 chipped in with 17 assists, while Beal recorded 25 assists.
The Scots will return to action this week against Kenyon and Earlham College, before traveling to DePauw next weekend.