GAMBIER, Ohio -- The Kenyon College volleyball team opened its 2026 season with a strong second-set performance Tuesday night, but Bluffton University responded by taking the final two sets and defeating the Owls, 3-1, at Tomsich Arena.
Bluffton took the match by scores of 27-25, 13-25, 25-18 and 25-22. Kenyon, which opened the season at home, moves to 0-1, while Bluffton improves to 1-0.
Olivia Gumz led the Kenyon attack with 11 kills, while
Abby Stenger and
Kendall Kirkbride each added 10.
Hannah Schwemm directed the offense with 31 assists and also contributed six kills.
Sophia Menke finished with six kills and three blocks, while
Alex Lay added five kills.
The opening set featured seven ties and two lead changes as neither team could gain much separation. Bluffton jumped out to a 4-0 advantage, but Kenyon gradually worked its way back into the set. The Owls eventually tied the score at 19-19 and later took a 20-19 lead following a kill from Schwemm.
The Beavers answered, but Kenyon stayed within striking distance. After the teams traded points late, Bluffton secured the final two points to take the opening set, 27-25.
The Owls then scored first five points of the second frame, getting kills from Lay and Kirkbride along with two service aces from Schwemm. Bluffton answered with a few points, but Kenyon continued to build its advantage and eventually moved ahead 15-7. The Owls maintained that momentum, pushing the lead to 19-8 before closing out the set, 25-13, to even the match at one set apiece. Kenyon hit .320 in the second set and held Bluffton to a -.100 hitting percentage.
The Beavers built a 13-9 advantage in set three, before Kenyon attempted to make another push. Bluffton then put together a five-point run, highlighted by a kill from Madison Brentlinger and a pair of blocks, to extend its lead to 18-11. Kenyon could not close the gap and Bluffton went on to win the set, 25-18, to take a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set was the most competitive of the final two frames. Kenyon started it out with an early 10-8 advantage before Bluffton responded with five consecutive points to take a 13-10 edge. The Beavers continued to stretch their advantage and eventually led 17-12.
The Owls refused to go away, however. Kenyon cut the deficit to two, at 24-22, and forced Bluffton to call timeout. The Beavers then ended the match on a kill from Keira Magers, giving Bluffton the 25-22 set victory and the 3-1 match win. Brentlinger paced Bluffton's offense with 12 kills while hitting .688. Ella Taylor recorded 29 assists and 13 digs, while Aaliyah West finished with five kills. Bluffton also held a 71-52 advantage in digs and recorded 10 team blocks compared with seven for Kenyon.
The Owls (0-1) will look to bounce back Friday, Sept. 4, when they travel to the Great Lakes Crossover to take on Allegheny College and Case Western Reserve University. The tournament will conclude Saturday, September 5, with Kenyon facing Adrian College and Baldwin Wallace University.
