Scots Take Flight at Capital Invite

Tiffany Rice became Wooster's all-time career leader in kills at the Capital Invitational.

Behind stellar performances behind All-Tournament selections Carolyn Ciriegio and Tiffany Rice, The College of Wooster volleyball team began its season with a bang this weekend (Sept. 2-3), sweeping through the Capital/Hampton Inn-Airport Invitational en route to the tourney title. The Scots, coming off their best season (21-9) in over 20 years, begin the season 4-0 for the third time in six years (2000, 2001) under head coach Terri Mason.

Friday saw the Scots open with their easiest game of the eight-team tournament, sweeping by Maranatha Baptist Bible College in straight sets (30-22, 30-27, 30-15). Later that night, Capital University got its shot at revenge on Wooster for a five-game loss last fall, but the host Crusaders, picked No. 1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, were sent packing with a 3-1 (23-30, 30-25, 30-25, 30-28) loss behind a career-high 27 kills by Ciriegio.

Ohio Dominican University put the Scots on the brink with a hard-fought five-game battle to start Saturday, but down 2-1, Wooster bounced back to win the final two games and the match 3-2 (28-30, 32-30, 24-30, 30-26, 17-15), to earn a berth in the championship game against North Coast Athletic Conference rival Hiram College. The Terriers, the preseason No. 2 in the conference, ended Wooster's season last fall with a 3-1 victory in the NCAC semifinals. This time around, it was the Scots who were the victors with a 3-1 (30-27, 29-31, 30-26, 30-25) win to capture the tournament crown.

Leading the pack was the senior-sophomore duo of Rice and Ciriegio, as the two were named to the All-Tourney team after leading the Scots with 4.19 and 4.31 kills per game, respectively. Additionally, Rice put her name in the Wooster record books by notching career kill No. 1,239 against Capital to become the school's all-time leader, passing Mandy Rearick. She now has 1,276 total kills for her career.

Defensively, senior Mary-Kate Fowkes paced the effort with 6.62 digs per game, followed by a pair of freshmen in Ali Drushal and Megan Earle with 4.81 and 2.94 digs. Ciriegio was equally as impressive on defensive as she was on offense, averaging 5.25 digs per game in addition to finishing second on the team with 10 blocks.

Junior Sarah Marschall minded the net over the two days, totaling 21 blocks, including nine solos, as well as leading the way with seven service aces. Classmate Erin Schaffner and sophomore Erin Wright contributed 43 and 21 kills, in addition to combining for 17 total blocks.

Heather Wolff put together an all-around performance, as the sophomore setter averaged 12.69 assists to go with 33 digs, six blocks, and two service aces.

Next up for Wooster will be a road trip to John Carroll University on Wednesday, Sept. 7, for a match with the Blue Streaks at 7 p.m.