WILMINGTON, Ohio -- Though a double take may be warranted when looking at the Kenyon College volleyball team's last six results, rest assured that there is no mistake. The Owls have indeed played a staggering six straight five-set matches. Even more eye-catching and important than the stretch of extended outings is Kenyon's winning streak, and their ability to outlast their opponent paid off again with a 3-2 win on the road against Wilmington College.

The victory ran Kenyon's winning streak to four straight, boosting the Owls to a 4-5 record this season. With four wins already, Kenyon has matched its win total from last season and will look to maintain its winning ways. The stretch of wins marks the program's longest streak since rattling off a matching four-match winning streak in 2019.

The Owls came out on the right side of the end result and opened the match on the right foot by winning the opening set 25-21, but the hosting Quakers came very close to quelling the Owls. Looking for its season's first win, Wilmington (0-6) won the second and third sets to go ahead 2-1 and pull within one set of clinching the match. The Quakers posted the night's largest total margin of victory with a 25-16 set-two win, and all the momentum seemed to be on the home team's side after a highly competitive, back-and-forth 30-28 third-set triumph.

Wilmington had to battle back from a 24-19 deficit with five straight scores and fend off three more Kenyon set points to pull off the impressive set-three comeback. The reversal of fortune could have downed Kenyon's spirits, but the Owls responded with a gritty victory of their own, winning the fourth set 27-25 to stay alive and force a deciding fifth set.

Kenyon dominated the final frame, doubling up on the Quakers 8-4 and never looking back. The Owls hit .333 in the set while holding the home team to a measly .042 mark, and Kenyon closed out the match with a 15-9 win to clinch the 3-2 comeback victory.

The teams were separated by just one point overall as Kenyon tallied 111 to Wilmington's 110. The Owls also held the overall edge in hitting percentage at .206 to .154, helping compensate for the Quakers plus-six advantage in the service game.

Individually, four Owls reached double-figure points, four had double-digit digs, and two posted double-doubles. The team effort helped counter Wilmington's two-headed attack that saw Emelia Mohler hit .325 with a match-high 20 kills and Josie Crabtree chip in 17 kills. Hannah Schwemm directed Kenyon's offense, dishing out 44 assists to tie Wilmington's Andie Dolven for the match-high. Schwemm also added a dozen digs for her second straight double-double and fifth this season.

Mariyah Rumpca-Veronese managed double-digit kills for the second straight match, leading the Owls with 15 kills and 16.5 total points. The first-year hit a solid .250, and she assisted on three blocks. Next up was Olivia Gumz, who notched 14 kills, her fourth straight match reaching double figures. Not far behind in kills was Aura Barinas, who was named the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Athlete of the Week earlier in the day. The junior maintained her strong stretch with 12 kills and 11 digs, her fifth double-double and third over Kenyon's win streak. 

Sophia Menke notched nine kills for a fourth straight match, and the sophomore had her season's most efficient outing with a .444 hitting percentage. She also led the Owls in blocks, finishing with 11 points. Lauren Blakemore and Arianna Flota were also getting it done on defense. Blakemore led Kenyon with 13 digs and three aces, while Flota was close behind with 12 digs and a pair of aces.

Up next, the Owls will be looking to extend their winning streak when they head to Hanover, Indiana, to play four games at the Hanover College Invitational. Kenyon opens the weekend with back-to-back games against Trine University (6-0) and Blackburn College (0-5) at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively, on Friday, September 13.