SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Kenyon College (16-11) swept Ohio Wesleyan University in the second round of the North Coast Athletic Conference volleyball tourney on Friday night winning by scores of 25-23, 25-21 and 25-22.
Delaney Swanson had a match-high 16 kills while newcomer
Katie Howard led with 15 digs. Defensively, the Ladies allowed OWU to hit just .112.
Despite seven serve errors and six attack miscues, Kenyon was able to rally for a 25-23, set-one win. OWU got off to a good start and led 7-3 before finding a 17-12 advantage more than midway through the set.
That's when the Ladies got going.
A 6-1 stretch by Kenyon capped off by an ace from
Alexi Donnelly pushed the team up one, 18-17. Both teams traded points after that before the Battling Bishops had one more lead, 23-22, following a setting error. Kenyon found one more push to get over the top as it scored the next three including a kill from
Elyse Davidson and block assist by Davidson and
Mackenzie Bruzzio.
In the second, Ohio Wesleyan struggled to contain Kenyon. Three different players had multiple kills for Kenyon including six for Swanson and five for Bruzzio.
Kenyon shook off an early 4-2 deficit by reeling off a 9-2 run to capture an 11-6 lead. OWU did not pull within five until late, 22-20, before Kenyon closed the set scoring three of the next four.
The third set proved to be the most competitive.
Each team traded points until the scoreboard read 11-11. Kenyon followed with a small 3-0 spurt highlighted by two Howard aces to move ahead, 14-11. That advantage was held before the Battling Bishops rallied. A 4-0 stretch was capped off by a Molly Jewett ace pushing the score to 20-19.
Despite relinquishing the lead, Kenyon dug deep and scored the next four points which included a pair of kills from Davidson. The Ladies later prevailed by three, 25-22.
Tomorrow, Kenyon will face off with 11-time defending tournament champion and No. 3 ranked Wittenberg in the semifinal round.
