Three Owls earn CSC Academic All-District distinction

GAMBIER, Ohio — On Tuesday, three Kenyon College volleyball team members were named to the 2023 Academic All-District Volleyball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC) members. Senior Lindsey Abramson and sophomores Lauren Blakemore and Maggie Wolf represented the Owls on the NCAA Division III All-District squad, recognizing the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.

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.

A biology major and the team’s lone upperclassman, Abramson led the Owls on and off the court and earned All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors for her contributions. The senior paced the Owls in points (209.5), points per set (2.44), kills (183), kills per set (2.13), and total attacks (533) while appearing in each of the team’s 24 matches and starting 23 of them. Abramson also led Kenyon with 367 serve receptions and finished with top-five marks in hitting percentage (.199), reception percentage (.943), blocks (20), and digs (367).

Blakemore, who majors in both psychology and history, was on the floor for all of Kenyon’s 87 sets, starting all 24 matches as the team’s libero. The defensive specialist led the Owls with 248 digs, a total that ranked 16th in the conference, and her 2.85 digs per set were the 11th-most in the league. Blakemore added 30 points on the offensive end, thanks primarily to 26 service aces, which was third on the team.

Wolf, who has yet to declare a major, joined Blakemore as the only Owls player to play every set. The offense ran through the sophomore setter, and her 474 assists paced Kenyon and ranked fifth in the league, while her 5.45 assists per set ranked fourth. Wolf also scored the fifth-most points (118) after tallying 70 kills, 33 aces, and 29 blocks. Her 33 aces led the team and ranked 16th in the conference, while her 29 blocks ranked third. For good measure, Wolf also ranked second with 186 digs and third with a .179 hitting percentage.

As a team, Kenyon closed out the 2023 season with a 4-20 (1-6 NCAC) record.