Coaching Staff: Amanda Krampf enters her fourth season running the ship of the Ladies volleyball program. In her time in Gambier, Krampf turned the once struggling program into one that is competing at a high level in the North Coast Athletic Conference.  The last two seasons produced winning marks (15-13 in 2015 and 18-12 in 2016). To put those records in perspective, the previous occasion the program had back-to-back winning campaigns was 1989-1990. Kenyon also finished in fifth place the last two years in the NCAC. New to the coaching staff this season is assistant Kendra Mosher, who was an All-America selection for nearby Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Last Season: The 2016 season saw the Ladies start the year with a 10-3 record. Once conference play came around, the squad posted a 5-3 mark and earned a spot in the NCAC tournament for the third time in four years. Kenyon earned the No. 3 seed in 2016 and, after falling to sixth-seeded Denison University in the quarterfinals, picked up wins against The College of Wooster and Hiram College to finish in fifth.

Team Makeup: This is the deepest team coach Krampf has had in her time at Kenyon. There are multiple players at each position that will play during the year, including four freshmen. Eight returnees played in at least 80 percent of the matches last year and will be leaned on again as the team looks to advance further in the conference tourney come November. 

Top Returnees: There is talent all over this season's roster for the Ladies, but we'll look at previous conference accolades to tackle this category. Senior Jensen Shurbert is one of the top setters in the NCAC, while third-year outside hitter Delaney Swanson has been a do-it-all player since arriving at Kenyon two years ago. Shurbert is a two-time All-NCAC honorable mention selection. Last year, she was fourth in the league with 9.42 assists per set. Swanson, who was the NCAC's Newcomer of the Year in 2015 and a first-team selection last season, ranked second in 2016 in kills (3.83) and ninth in digs (3.55).

Significant Losses: Kenyon lost three seniors, but they combined to play in just 28 sets, total eight kills and 21 digs. In short, the 2017 Ladies will not have to deal with any significant losses, at least in terms on-court statistical production.
  
Team Strength: As mentioned earlier, depth. The Ladies have a talented, experienced core returning along with four first-year players that will be able to come in when needed. Krampf and the team will have the opportunity to mix and match the lineup as they see fit. Also of note, the team's energy and passion. Winning breeds confidence. Given the success the program has had the last couple of seasons, the team looks primed to continue its improvement and reach new heights.

Potential Problem: Service reception has been known to be a bit shaky. That has been a point of emphasis for coach Krampf and the players during the preseason. If Kenyon can clean that up, it will have the personnel to be an effective unit.

Schedule Check: Kenyon opens the season with four matches at the Gettysburg Battlefield Classic on September 1-2. The next weekend, the Ladies will host the Kenyon Invitational and play against Geneva, Muskingum and Transylvania. Conference play will begin on September 23 when the Gators of Allegheny come to Tomsich Arena. Following a tri-match with Mount Vernon Nazarene and Capital on September 30, the Ladies will begin a long stretch of conference matches. In addition to the matches already mentioned, fans will have the chance to see the Ladies three more times at home: October 6 against Oberlin College, October 14 against DePauw University and October 25 against perennial NCAC power Wittenberg. The NCAC Tournament will follow on November 3-4.