Box Score
GAMBIER, Ohio – A very determined Kenyon College volleyball team took the court in search of their second straight win and posted big numbers up and down the roster in Friday night's home finale against Oberlin College. In a match full of ups and downs, the Ladies were unable to capitalize on double-double performances by Sierra DeLeon, Mary Jo Scott, and Hannah Shank. Oberlin and Kenyon went the distance and the Yeowomen took a 3-2 decision by final counts of 26-28, 26-24, 22-25, 25-16, and 15-11.
The way the first set played out foreshadowed the match would most likely go five games. Kenyon rolled out the first eight points of the match with DeLeon serving up seven straights points. Oberlin slowly chipped away at the early Kenyon lead until they found themselves down by four points, 21-17. Kills by Hannah Tyburski and Christine Antonsen preceded back-to-back reception errors by the Ladies' Sandhya Bhasker and allowed Oberlin to tie it up at 21 before the teams jostled it out into extra points. With the score tied at 26, DeLeon ripped her third kill of the set and then tag-teamed the net with Maggie Hudson and blocked down an attack attempt by Oberlin's Jillian Hostetler for the win.
Kenyon displayed its own come-from-behind skills in the second set after Oberlin built a lead as large as seven points by fighting back to challenge the Yeowomen. With Katie Goulder at the service line, Oberlin committed five errors to allow Kenyon back into the set. Down two, a pair of kills by DeLeon plus two more errors by Oberlin gave Kenyon the lead, 22-20. However, Oberlin regrouped and rallied to score six of the last eight points to take the second set and tie the match at one game each.
Set number three was neck-and-neck all the way through before McKenzie Mitchell recorded the first of her two service aces, propelling the Ladies to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The fourth set was all Oberlin after Kenyon committed 11 errors. Tied at two games, the match went to a decisive fifth set.
Oberlin used its momentum from the fourth to jump out on top early, 8-3. Coming out of a timeout, Kenyon strung together a couple of kills by DeLeon and used a few errors on the Yeowomen's part to keep hope alive. A huge solo block by Maggie Hudson gave life to the Ladies, despite being down 13-10. Another attack error by Maddy Dunn put Oberlin up only two points, prompting the use of a timeout. Dunn came back and reversed her fortune with her ninth kill of the night to put Oberlin one point away from victory before teammate Christine Antonsen finished the match with her team-leading 13th kill.
Three different Ladies put together double-double efforts in the loss. DeLeon led the Ladies with 13 kills and added 10 digs to her line. Mary Jo Scott chipped in 11 kills and 10 digs, as well. Hannah Shank achieved a double-double the unconventional way, posting 28 assists and 16 digs, tying McKenzie Mitchell for the team lead on the night.
As a team, Kenyon had one of its best nights at the net in recent weeks. Kaitlyn Power led them with two block assists and one solo block, helping the Ladies collect six total team blocks.
On the other side of the net, Antonsen led the Yeowomen with 13 kills and had a match-high seven service aces. Ave Spencer made her presence known on the front line with six block assists and one solo block, helping Oberlin collect 13 total team blocks.
Friday night's loss was the Ladies' final home game of the season. Kenyon (1-19, 1-5 NCAC) will play all four of their remaining regular season matches on the road, including their final two North Coast Athletic Conference matches. Tomorrow, the Ladies will play Denison University at 2 p.m. and close up the conference slate at Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 30.
