Kenyon volleyball nets CSC Academic awards

GAMBIER, Ohio — For the second time in the last three seasons, the Kenyon College Owls registered four student-athletes on the annual College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Volleyball Team. This year’s Kenyon quartet included Lauren Blakemore, Arianna Flota, Sophia Menke and Juliette Tomamichel.

To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete had to be a key contributor who participated in at least 90 percent of the team’s sets or started 66 percent of the team’s matches. The student-athlete had to be on the team’s active roster for at least two years and, most importantly, had to possess at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. Each NCAA Division III institution was granted a maximum of four nominations.

Of the four Kenyon student-athletes, Blakemore is the sole two-time recipient of the CSC’s academic honor. The junior libero played in all 27 matches and logged 99 sets played. She led the team in digs (333) and service aces (37). She also contributed 64 assists, as well as a handful of kills. In the classroom, Blakemore is majoring in both history and Arabic.

Flota, a sophomore, was also a defensive specialist for the Owls. She, too, played in all 27 matches and recorded 100 sets played, which tied for the team lead. Flota had 188 digs, a mark that ranked third best on the team. She also had 31 service aces, nine assists and one kill. Away from the court, Flota majors in environmental studies.

Menke played at the net and the sophomore middle blocker led the team in blocks for the second straight season. Her 72 blocks were 33 more than anyone else on the team and, combined with 43 blocks a year ago, Menke now has 115 career stuffs. This past season, Menke, who has not declared a major, also posted 157 kills in 26 matches played.

Tomamichel, a junior and a biochemistry major, participated in 24 matches, including 89 sets. From her outside hitter position, she showed versatility by cranking out 68 kills, 53 digs, 39 blocks, 29 service aces and 15 assists.

During the 2024 slate, the four CSC honorees helped Kenyon to a win total that was three more than what the previous season’s team produced.