Over the past two weeks, the Kenyon volleyball team faced two NCAC foes and one non-conference opponent. Despite strong showings in all of three of the matches, the Owls were unable to claim a win. The team is now 3-14 (0-3 NCAC) on the season.
The Owls traveled to Wittenberg University on Sept. 30 to take on the Tigers, falling in straight sets, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21. The Tigers have historically dominated Kenyon, winning the last 18 meetings between the two teams. Although the Owls struggled offensively, only recording 16 kills to Wittenberg’s 41, there were many positives on the defensive side. Four Kenyon players recorded at least six digs apiece, with libero Lauren Blakemore ’26 leading the pack with eight. Three Owls also recorded aces in the third set, including Arianna Flota ’27, who wrote in an email to the Collegian that despite the loss, she saw the positives of the day: “I was very proud of everyone and thought it was a major turning point for [the team’s] game play in the season.”
Last Wednesday, the Owls were on the road again at Defiance College for a non-conference matchup. Kenyon has never been able to capture a victory against Defiance and ultimately lost 3-1 after winning the second set. Despite the score, the Owls’ offense put up impressive numbers. Maggie Wolf ’26 dished out 35 assists, the most in a single game this season for the Owls. In its second set victory, Kenyon recorded 15 kills to Defiance’s seven, which helped it maintain a lead throughout the set. Kenyon also put up a better overall hitting percentage at .301 compared to Defiance’s .261, showing a strong offensive effort from the Owls.
On Saturday, Kenyon hosted the Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) Battling Bishops, who currently rank first in the NCAC volleyball standings. Despite the loss, the Owls didn’t let the Battling Bishops push them around and kept each set close, recording a final score of 25-18, 25-22, 25-23. Kenyon fought to tie the match eight different times in the second set and even got out to a strong start in the third set, leading 11-7. However, OWU fought back and scored five points in a row at the end of the match to secure the victory. On offense, Lindsey Abramson ’24 and Aura Barinas ’26 led the team with seven and six kills, respectively. On defense, Becca Gwynne ’26 recorded five of the team’s six blocks and Wolf led the team in digs, picking up 16.
The Owls are on the road again this Saturday as they travel to Westerville, Ohio, for a pair of non-conference matchups against Heidelberg College and Otterbein University.