Over the weekend, volleyball participated in the Kenyon/Denison tournament in Gambier. They got a tough draw in the tournament, facing Case Western Reserve University (11-3) and the University of Mount Union (13-3). After falling 3-0 in both tournament matches, the Owls lost 3-1 against Capital University on Tuesday.
On Saturday, Kenyon started off the tournament with an afternoon game against the Case Western Spartans. The first set was a tight affair throughout, with the score tied four times. At 22-all, the Spartans were able to break the knot, winning the next three points to take the set. Case Western forcefully took the second set 25-14, but Kenyon put up a fight in the third. However, a 6-1 run by the Spartans grounded the Owls. Paige Milhon ’23, who co-led the team with nine kills, was proud of the Owls’ fight. “I think we showed that we can hang with high-level teams,” she wrote in an email to the Collegian.
After a quick break, the Owls faced the Mount Union Purple Raiders. Unlike the match against Case Western, Kenyon was not able to keep up with the Purple Raiders. The Owls fell into a 13-7 hole in the first set. They were not able to recover, and they lost the set. The second and third sets played out in a similar fashion as the Owls dropped the sets 25-9 and 25-19, respectively.
On Tuesday, Kenyon was back in Tomsich Arena to play the Capital Comets, facing off against their former head coach Rosanna Sguerra. The Owls soared at times, but the Comets were able to hold on during key moments to win the match. After the set started off close, Kenyon got out to a 19-14 lead. The Owls never looked back, taking the first set 25-19. However, Capital came roaring back in the second set, jumping out to a 14-9 lead. The Owls clawed back, but an 8-2 run toward the end knotted up the match at 1-1. The third set featured runs by both teams. The Comets streaked out to a 20-10 lead, but a 13-3 run by the Owls gave Kenyon a one-point lead. Capital won the next three points to take a 2-1 match lead. Kenyon was unable to rebound in the fourth set, falling 25-16.
Macy Reimbold ’23, who had nine kills in the match, adding to her team lead in kills, credits the defense for keeping the Owls in the match against Capital. “I think we played really hard,” Reimbold wrote in an email to the Collegian. “Our defensive effort was really strong and we worked to keep the ball in play in many key situations.”
Despite the recent string of losses, Milhon remains confident in the team’s effort. “I am proud of our team’s drive, commitment, and willingness to continue working hard in spite of us not getting the results we all want,” she said. “If we keep our effort high, our execution will soon follow.”
The Owls are 1-12 on the season. They hope to get a win on Saturday in Gambier when they start NCAC play against DePauw University.