The Kenyon volleyball team played four games over the past week, falling in all four. First, the Owls traveled west to Jacksonville, Illinois, where they played against Nebraska Wesleyan University on Friday before taking on Monmouth College (Ill.) and Central College (Iowa) on Saturday. Then, on Tuesday, Kenyon was swept by No. 20 Otterbein University.

Kenyon got off to a tough start on Friday against Nebraska Wesleyan University, dropping the first three points of the opening set en route to a 25-14 first set defeat. The Owls then won the first point of the second set on an impressive kill from Juliette Tomamichel ’26, but lost the next six, and the Prairie Wolves handily took the set 25-17. Both teams went back and forth throughout the third set, and Kenyon even held a slim 21-20 lead after a kill from Mariyah Rumpca-Veronese ’28, but Nebraska Wesleyan closed it out by winning five of the final six points to complete the sweep.

Saturday’s affair against Monmouth was much closer, with the Owls narrowly falling in a five-set thriller. The first set began close, but a 4-0 run from Monmouth midway through helped the Fighting Scots keep Kenyon at arm’s length to take the opening set 25-17. However, the Owls were able to regain their composure in the second set, taking a 13-8 lead after a service ace from Hannah Schwemm ’27. From there, Kenyon kept its foot on the gas and won the second set 25-16.

Unfortunately for the Owls, Monmouth thoroughly dominated the third set, winning 25-13 to put the Fighting Scots on the cusp of victory. Despite being backed into a corner, Kenyon started off the fourth set with a vengeance, with Rumpca-Veronese recording three straight kills to put the Owls up 3-0. Both teams then traded blows for most of the set and with Monmouth up 26-25, just a single point away from winning the match, Rumpca-Veronese recorded another crucial kill. Then, after an attack error by Monmouth, Olivia Gumz ’27 had a huge kill to tie the match at two sets apiece.

Kenyon carried its newfound momentum into the fifth and final set, taking a 13-11 advantage on an attack error. However, the Owls faltered down the stretch and Monmouth won the final four points to secure the victory in heartbreaking fashion.

Kenyon then faced off against Central College later that afternoon, and despite battling hard, the Owls dropped the first set 25-21. It was a similar story in the second set, with a kill by Sophia Menke ’27 getting the Owls within four points of Central, but the Big Red once again came through with a 25-20 win. Finally, Central sealed the deal by winning the third set 25-19 to sweep the Owls.

After the weekend, captain Joy Carstanjen ’26 reflected on the team’s positive outlook in an email to the Collegian. “As a team, we have done a great job this season pushing each other to improve every day and focusing on preparing for the upcoming conference games,” she wrote. “We are working together to improve on our ability to close out those close matches.”

Unfortunately for the Owls, Tuesday’s result against Otterbein was not much better. The Cardinals blitzed Kenyon from the jump, winning the opening set 25-10, before taking the second set 25-16. Otterbein then proceeded to win the first five points of the third set en route to a 25-16 victory that sealed the match.

The Owls will kick off NCAC play against The College of Wooster at home on Saturday for the Minority Athletes at Kenyon match.