Scots Making Season Debut at Capital Tourney Again

For The Week Of:
August 28, 2006

Written by Hugh Howard
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Carolyn Ciregio

Following its best season in 21 years, The College of Wooster volleyball team will try to pick up where it left off in 2005 when it heads to Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, for Friday’s and Saturday’s (Sept. 1-2) Capital Invitational. Head coach Terri Mason’s Fighting Scots, coming off a 25-7 overall record, will open against DePauw University (25-11 in 2005) on Friday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a showdown with the host Crusaders (32-5 in 2005) at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Wooster faces off against Heidelberg College (17-16 in 2005) at 9 a.m. before closing out the opening weekend with a match against Otterbein College (14-13 in 2005) at 2 p.m. The Scots also started the 2005 season at the Capital Invitational and won the annual event, defeating Marantha Baptist Bible College (30-22, 30-17, 30-15), regionally-ranked Capital (23-30, 30-25, 30-25, 30-28), Ohio Dominican University (28-30, 32-30, 24-30, 30-26, 17-15), and eventual North Coast Athletic Conference-champion Hiram College (30-27, 29-31, 30-26, 30-25).

2006 Preview Notes: Wooster lost the centerpiece of one of the most successful stretches in college history, three-time All-NCAC standout Tiffany Rice, but returns four starters to a squad coming off of a 25-7 record and fourth-place finish in the conference (5-3) ... Keying the attack in 2006 will be junior Carolyn Ciregio (Covington, Ohio / Covington), who earned second-team All-NCAC accolades last fall after averaging 3.82 kills and 4.62 digs per game. Also a force on the outside will be senior Erin Schaffner (North Canton, Ohio / Glen Oak), with 1,003 career kills to her credit ... Returning to the Scots’ lineup after opting not to play in the 2005 season is Ashley Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield Catholic Central), a first-team All-NCAC player in 2004 when she finished atop the league in blocks (1.16 bpg), to go with 2.30 kills and 4.25 digs per game at her middle hitter position ... Looking to lead Wooster in the back row will be Ali Drushal (Lakeville, Ohio / West Holmes), who made an immediate impact during her freshman year, primarily playing at libero and tallying 4.80 digs per game – eighth-best in the NCAC ... Taking over the setter position will be newcomer Abbie Casey (Marion, Ohio / Marion Pleasant), a sophomore transfer from NCAA Div. I Charleston Southern University.