The Kenyon volleyball team split a pair of conference matches against the College of Wooster and Denison University to move the team’s record to 4-18 (1-5 NCAC). After a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Fighting Scots on Senior Day on Saturday, the Owls were unable to continue their momentum on Tuesday against the Big Red and fell 3-1.

Prior to Kenyon’s match on Saturday, the Owls celebrated their lone senior, Lindsey Abramson ’24. Abramson, who has amassed 390 kills through 64 matches for Kenyon, was grateful for the support of the Kenyon volleyball program. “My teammates made the entire day more special than I could ever imagine,” she wrote in an email to the Collegian. “It was a day dedicated to celebrating all of the time, effort and dedication of the last four years while joyfully commemorating all of the relationships and friendships built along the way.” Abramson was especially appreciative of how Senior Day allowed her to put her Kenyon career in perspective: “I feel so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to play the sport I love, surrounded by the most genuine teammates, while getting an incredible education.” 

For Aura Barinas ’26, the chance to honor Abramson was especially important for the young team: “[A]s our only senior with no juniors on the team, she has had a big impact on all of our players but especially to us sophomores as our role model throughout the last two seasons,” she wrote in an email to the Collegian. 

The Owls and Fighting Scots traded points to begin the first set, with Wooster holding an early 4-3 lead. Kenyon quickly responded, scoring five straight points. From then on, the Owls never looked back, holding a 10-3 advantage in kills on the way to a 25-15 win. Wooster responded in the second set with an 8-3 run to open the frame, but Kenyon answered back to take a 9-8 lead. For the rest of the set, neither team could find much separation. With the score tied at 23 all, the Fighting Scots clinched the set with a pair of kills to win 25-23. Kenyon took the lead in the match after a 28-26 win in the third set, but Wooster sent the game to a decisive final frame after taking the fourth set 25-22. The Owls bookended the trio of close sets with a dominant performance, outhitting the Fighting Scots 0.192 to 0.091 to clinch a 15-9 set win and 3-2 match victory.

Abramson and Barinas were proud of Kenyon’s effort against Wooster. “We always kept a good attitude on and off the court and would lift each other up as the game went on,” Barinas, who led the team with 16 kills, said. “This match taught us that consistency and being a team player is one of the most important characteristics for a good team.” Abramson, who earned career highs in digs (14) and assists (three), echoed her: “Our Wooster game was an incredible team effort that we found success in by using our scouting report and hitting the shots we needed to hit. Our energy stayed high the entire time and we had a ton of fun on the court together!”

Unfortunately, the Owls were unable to pick up back-to-back wins on Tuesday as they lost to the Big Red in Granville, Ohio. After a stifling 25-9 win in the first set, Denison built its lead to 2-0 with a 25-18 victory. Kenyon refused to go away without a fight, taking the third set 25-22 after capitalizing on Denison’s 10 errors. In the final set, the Big Red redoubled their effort, hitting 0.560 as a team on the way to a 25-9 win.

Kenyon will play its final conference match against DePauw University on Saturday. Abramson is confident that the Owls will find success through cohesive team play: “Looking ahead, we need to stay consistent in our play and focus on controlling our energy regardless of what our opponents bring to the court. I have the utmost confidence in this team and am excited for what is to come!”