Wooster, Ohio – The Oberlin College volleyball team suffered a gut-wrenching five-set defeat at The College of Wooster on Tuesday evening, falling 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, and 15-17.
 
In the decisive fifth set the Yeowomen rallied from an early 7-3 deficit to earn match point with a 15-14 lead in hand but the Scots fended off the ensuing serve and would go on to add two more points to complete the victory.
 
Lexi Mitchell led the Oberlin attack with 21 kills, while also adding season-bests in service aces (6), solo blocks (2) and blocks assists (5). Jaya Flynn-Young hammered home 10 kills on just 18 swings for a .389 hitting clip, while Maura Gibbs dropped in nine kills to accompany her 14 digs.
 
Samantha Lam and Sara Chang split the setting duties with Chang getting credit for 24 helpers compared to Lam's 22. The duo also combined for 20 digs, with Lam scooping up 11 balls. Senior Emily Kelkar led the backline unit with 18 digs.
 
All the games were nip and tuck throughout the night with the first set being no exception. Oberlin held an early 12-9 lead, but later in the match a 4-1 burst by the Scots broke open what had been an 18-18 tie. The Yeowomen would have life late, cutting the gap down to 23-22, but Wooster would finish the job with back-to-back points.
 
In the second-set victory, the Yeowomen appeared to be in big trouble as they trailed 23-16, but came all the way back to steal the session. Oberlin would end the set with nine straight points to complete an improbable comeback. The run featured three kills by Mitchell, including the clincher. Gibbs jumpstarted the rally with a service ace while Emery Beacom and Mitchell combined to make two huge blocks.
 
The Yeowomen overcame a big deficit in the early going of set three to get within one point, but they would never lead in the set. An ace from Mitchell had the Scots' advantage down to just one at 21-20. Following three straight points by Wooster, Oberlin responded with three of its own to again get within one, but Wooster would ultimately take the set by two points on a kill from Marija Cyvas.
 
Needing to win the fourth to extend the match, Oberlin took control of the frame with a four-point spurt to claim a 16-12 cushion. The Scots would later tie it at 19, but five straight Yeowomen points that included three aces by Mitchell left no doubt in the eventual outcome of the stanza to setup the exciting fifth game.
 
Oberlin poured in 12 aces compared to Wooster's six, but hindered the cause with 36 attack errors against just 27 for the Scots.  
 
The Yeowomen dropped to 4-10 overall and 0-3 in the NCAC, while Wooster improved to 12-6 and 1-1 in play.
 
Oberlin will commence Homecoming Weekend on Friday night as it will honor its senior members prior to a 7 p.m. tilt against conference rival Kenyon.