The College of Wooster volleyball team engineered a reserve sweep of Capital University to kick off its 2025 home slate on Wednesday evening at Timken Gymnasium. Wooster posted a scoreline of 21-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-18, 15-12.

A quick set from first-year setter Erin Ellis to first-year middle Tamarra Talbert capped the exciting match, which featured 31 ties and 20 lead changes. Prior to Talbert's match-winner, an Ellis ace tied the decisive fifth set at 11. Next, Capital's Abby Brunner's dig turned into a kill, then the Comets had three straight attack errors to give the momentum back to Wooster.

Back-to-back Ellis aces early in set four gave Wooster the cushion it needed to tie the match up. Those came in the midst of a lead-changing 5-0 Wooster run that had the Scots up 8-4, and a lead that would not be relinquished. Later, sophomore Mary-Catherine Werth put away one of her team-leading 10 kills to extend the Scots' lead to 22-18. A service ace from junior Jordan Laraway moved the score to set point Wooster before Werth totaled her third kill of the fourth set.

A Laraway kill following a Capital attack error gave Wooster a 23-21 lead in set three. Cozzie followed that up with an ace. On set point, first-year Caitlin Walsh-Knouff snuck in a kill in the front corner of Capital's side of the court to put Wooster in the board.

Stellar defense from sophomore libero Catherine Muzilla was at the forefront of Wooster's performance in the opening two sets. She had 12 digs in the second frame and was a perfect 15-of-15 on serve receptions over the opening two stanzas. For the night, Muzilla logged a career-high 32 digs, marking the program's first 30-dig match since alumna Sydney Fitzcharles did so against Thile College four years ago to the day.

Werth hit .290 for the match with 10 kills on 31 swings with just one error. Laraway followed with eight kills, while junior Kora Burill added seven. Cozzie backed Muzilla's career night up with 19 digs. Talbert was in on four of Wooster's six blocks.

Samaree Perkins had 15 kills to lead Capital. Shy Black was a big contributor with 29 digs.

Wooster improved to 2-3 while Capital fell to 0-4.

Next, Wooster takes on Grove City College (3-0) and Adrian College (0-4) on Friday, Sept. 5 at Oberlin College. Wooster's first match starts at 2 p.m.