WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
2024 Volleyball Season Preview
GAMBIER, Ohio — Equipped with a host of returning players and a new head coach, the Kenyon College volleyball team looks to establish itself as a contender in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and develop a new regime under Madison Schweitzer.
2023 Review:
- 4-20 overall record, including 1-4 at home and 0-7 on the road.
- 1-6 record in the NCAC, missing out on the newly-formatted, six-team postseason tournament.
NCAC Preseason Poll:
The Owls claimed the seventh seed in this year’s NCAC preseason poll, tying The College of Wooster with 13 points. DePauw sits atop the conference list with 60 points, followed by Ohio Wesleyan (55) and Wittenberg (53). Denison (39), Oberlin (28), and Hiram (27) took home the fourth, fifth, and six slots, respectively, while Kenyon and Wooster rounded out the list.
Key Returners:
- Aura Barinas – Finished second on the team in kills (124) and total attacks (444), sixth in digs (89), and eighth in blocks (12) while ranking seventh in sets played (79).
- Lauren Blakemore – Led the team with 248 digs and was one of two players to play all 87 sets. Her 26 service aces were the third most.
- Becca Gwynne – Ranked first in attack percentage (.264), second in points per set (2.36) and blocks (40), and third in total points (139).
- Sophia Menke – Amassed a team high 43 blocks and ranked fourth in points (120.5) and kills (89).
- Hannah Schwemm – Dished out 110 assists, the team’s second-best mark, and also ranked second with 28 aces. Her 154 digs ranked third.
- Maggie Wolf – Led the team in assists (474) and aces (33) while tying for the most sets played (87). She ranked fifth in points (118) and kills (70), second in digs (186), and third in blocks (29).
Key Departures:
- Lindsey Abramson – The only graduating senior from the Owls in 2023, Abramson paced the Owls in points (209.5), points per set (2.44), kills (183), kills per set (2.13), and total attacks (533), earning an All-NCAC nod.
Schedule Overview:
- Season Opener: Friday, August 30, vs. Penn State Altoona (7 p.m.)
- Home Opener: Wednesday, September 4, vs. Bluffton University (7 p.m.)
- NCAC Opener: Saturday, September 28, vs. Oberlin College (11 a.m.)
How to Follow:
Fans can follow Kenyon volleyball throughout the season via the following links:
- Live coverage (stats and video) – https://athletics.kenyon.edu/live
- Twitter and Instagram – @KenyonSports
- YouTube – @KenyonAthletics
