This past week, the Kenyon Ladies volleyball team competed on the road against Oberlin College and Capital University. At both away games, the home team had the advantage and the Ladies fell 3-1 and 3-0, respectively.
On Sept. 23, Oberlin’s Yeowomen made some errors very early in the first set, but took advantage of the Ladies’ mistakes in the return game. While the frame was briefly tied at 17, Oberlin ultimately won 25-21. During the second set, Kenyon turned the tables and took the lead, forcing the home team to take a timeout. This interruption did not work in the Yeowomen’s favor, however, and the Ladies took the set in convincing fashion, 25-16. Kenyon’s offensive momentum rode into the third set, but Oberlin responded well and tied the set at 12. A timeout from the Ladies did nothing to deter the Yeowomen run, and Oberlin took the third set 25-20.
In the final set, the home team found its stride, making only two attack errors in the entire frame. The Yeowomen won the set 25-14, despite the Ladies’ fight until the end. Jac Cousineau ’23 recorded a total of 21 assists during the four sets, while Macy Reimbold ’23 successfully produced 10 kills; additionally, Ellie Luciani ’23 secured 14 digs, a team high.
Five days later, Kenyon fell to Capital at an away game in Bexley, Ohio. This time, the home team won the first three sets, ending the match quickly. In the first set, Capital rapidly built an insurmountable lead. In the second, the Ladies were more competitive and took leads at 14-10 and 17-12, but Capital rallied and won the second frame 25-22. In the third and final set, the Ladies were able to keep close to Capital early on, leading 12-11. The game quickly fell to Capital after they went on a scoring streak that ended with the home team winning five of the set’s last six points.
Despite the loss, there were some remarkable performances from several individual Ladies. Elyse Davidson ’22 led the Ladies offensive with nine kills and only two errors out of 21 attempts. Cousineau returned with 22 assists on Kenyon’s 24 kills, and Luciani again offered a team-high number of digs, this time contributing 10. Lindsey Abramson ’24 and Lauren Limbach ’22 also posted eight and seven digs, respectively. Paige Milhon ’23 assisted the Ladies with four blocks, the most of any Kenyon player in the match.
The Ladies compete next on Oct. 2 against Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. Kenyon has only played one NCAC match thus far and now heads into the core of its conference scheduling.