Megan Zerrer
Contributing Writer
The Wooster volleyball team lost to one of its toughest rivals, Wittenberg University, last Saturday. While the ladies were dealt a 3-0 setback, there were certainly some bright spots throughout the sets. The Scots were able to take their first lead of the match during the third set. Although the Tigers rallied to gain the lead once more, the Scots tied it up at 9-9 with Ksenia Klue’s ’18 service ace.
After the Tigers broke the 9-9 tie, the Scots were unable to regain the lead. They refused to fall too far behind, keeping the score at 16-18 later on in the set. The Tigers have not lost an NCAC match since the 2010 season, making them a challenging opponent. Witt limited the Scots to 13 kills throughout the match. Savannah Moore ’16, Megan Mey ’17 and Klue each recorded two of the 13 kills, while Lydia Webster ’17 claimed seven. The Scots attempted to counterbalance Wittenberg’s attack, with six players recording three or more digs. Rachel Sell ’15 led the defense, recording six digs.
As with any sport, tough opponents give the team a clear idea of what needs to be refined in order to succeed, as well as motivation to work hard and play better the next time around.
“Overall, I think consistency is our biggest issue,” commented Sell. “We play extremely good volleyball at times, but other games we play very poorly. If we can figure out how to play consistently throughout a match, as well as start off strong, the wins will hopefully start to come our way.”
Sell was responsible for one of Wooster’s three service aces, which means that she has achieved at least one service ace in seven of her last eight matches.
With quite a few new players on the court, the women are continuing to work together to find their balance. Six of the 14 players are first years, and finding the team dynamic is difficult and can take some time. Sell commented that the team has made significant strides in gaining experience working together as a team and acclimating the first years. The team remains optimistic about their goals for the season with hopes to place second or third in their league.
By increasing their consistency and remaining focused, the team is well on their way to achieving success in the rest of their season. The Scots played against Franciscan University on Sept. 24 after press time. Their next match is Homecoming weekend against rival DePauw University, on Sept. 28