Last weekend, the Kenyon volleyball team hit the road and headed to Greencastle, Indiana, to continue conference play against DePauw University. However, the Owls were sent back to Gambier with a 3-0 loss. On Wednesday, the Owls returned home to play John Carroll University where they fell 3-1, leaving their record at 5-16 (1-3 NCAC).
On Saturday, DePauw started off hot, gaining an early lead, but Kenyon kept the score close with kills from Mariyah Rumpca-Veronese ’28 and Aura Barinas ’26. From there, it was all DePauw, and the Tigers ended up running away with the set, winning 25-15. Going into the second set, Kenyon looked to redeem itself and got off to an early 3-0 lead. The Owls were unable to maintain their offensive momentum, however, and the tide quickly turned in favor of DePauw. The second set ended 25-16, another Tigers victory.
Kenyon entered the third set with its sights set on forcing a fourth. The teams went point for point and tied multiple times. Kills from Olivia Gumz ’27, Becca Gwynne ’26 and Rumpca-Veronese kept the Owls in the game. Ultimately, the Tigers were able to put the nail in the coffin, winning the third set 26-24.
On Wednesday, the Owls faced John Carroll at home. The first set was close from the start, with the teams tying multiple times. Despite going back and forth in the first few possessions, the Blue Streaks took the first set 25-20. John Carroll snagged the second set after taking an early lead. Despite their best efforts, the Owls were unable to find their offensive footing and lost the set 25-15.
Kenyon entered the third set fired up, determined not to go down without a fight. The teams were neck-and-neck for the majority of the period, tying multiple times. In the end, Kenyon forced a fourth set, winning 25-19. The Blue Streaks, however, took the loss in stride and quickly shut down the Owls in the fourth set. The resounding 25-10 victory for John Carroll marked the end of the match and a win for the Blue Streaks.
Kenyon will finish out its regular season on Saturday as it travels to Granville to play Ohio Northern University and perennial rival Denison University.