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GAMBIER, Ohio - With a strong core of upperclassmen and growing depth across the roster the Kenyon College volleyball team look to build on last season's stride and climb the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) standings in 2025.
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2024 Review
- 7-20 overall record, 2-6 at home, 2-6 at away, and 3-8 at neutral sites.
- 1-6 in conference play, finishing eighth in the conference.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach
Madison Schweitzer enters her second season at the throne of the Kenyon volleyball program. Last season, her first in Gambier, Schweitzer produced a seven-win season, the best single-season output for the Owls since the 2019 season and coached one player to NCAC All-Conference team. She is joined by
Cal Pringle, who is set to make their debut for the Owls as the assistant coach. Prior to working at Gambier, Pringle worked at Earlham College as a volunteer assistant coach.
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NCAC Preseason Poll
The home team secures the seventh seed in this year's NCAC preseason poll, matching last year's poll. Denison earned the top spot with 59 points despite falling in the NCAC Championship against Ohio Wesleyan. The defending champions, Ohio Wesleyan followed with 51 points, just eight points behind first. John Carroll secures third (48) while Wittenberg trails just by one point (47) at fourth place. DePauw sits near the middle of the table at fifth (35), dropping four spots from last year's poll. Oberlin (19) placed sixth with Kenyon following just behind. Wooster rounds out the list at eighth with 14 points.
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Returning All-Conference Honorees
Aura Barinas returns as the sole All-Conference honoree of the 2024 season. Barinas was a crucial part of the Owls offense leading the team in points (287.5), points per set (2.88), kills (250), and kills per set (2.50). The veteran was one of two Owls to play all 100 of the team's sets, and she was the only player to start all 27 of the team's matches. Barinas also ranked fourth on the team in assists (26), service aces (27), and service aces per set (0.27). Defensively, Barinas had 254 digs (second-most on the team) and tallied a personal-best 18 blocks.
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Returning Statistical Leaders
Third-year
Olivia Gumz returns to the court looking to bring her strong offensive into the new season. In 96 games, Gumz notched 257 points (second-most), 2.68 points per set (second-most), 226 kills (second-most), and 2.35 kills per set (second-most). On the defensive end,
Lauren Blakemore enters her final year as an Owl, leading the team in digs with 333.
Sophia Menke is set to be the primary kill-stopper as she led the team in blocks (72).
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Schedule Overview
- Season Opener: Friday, August 29, vs. Hiram College (7 p.m.)
- Home Opener: Saturday, September 6, vs. Franciscan University (12 p.m.)
- NCAC Opener: Saturday, September 27, vs. The College of Wooster (12 p.m.)
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How to Follow
Fans can follow Kenyon volleyball throughout the season via the following links:
