Denison University

Gambier, Ohio - The Denison volleyball team ended NCAC play on a three-game winning streak, as the Big Red swept Kenyon on Friday night 3-0 in their NCAC finale. The Big Red's win clinched the four-seed in the NCAC Tournament, as they finish conference play with a 4-3 record and improve to 10-14 overall.

Denison fell in a hole in the opening set, falling behind 10-7 to Kenyon in the opening game. A Claire Hamilton kill rebounded Denison, as they gradually worked to bring the set back to a level score. Another spike from the senior sparked a 4-0 run, as Gabrielle Wigglesworth would tie the set 15-15 at the end of the run. Denison took its first lead since 7-5 on a block from Wigglesworth and Maeve Perry, pushing in front 17-16. Kenyon would show fight as they overtook the lead 21-19, but two kills rallied the score back to level, and a solo block from Emily Monachino sparked a finishing run. Monachino's block trailing 22-21 tied the set, and fueled a 4-0 run that was finished by a Hamilton kill, as Denison took set one 25-22.

The rally gave Denison strong momentum entering set two, as four different hitters slammed a kill in a 4-1 opening run. Denison kept the lead throughout after taking their first edge, pushing the lead to four at 10-6, and later to nine at 16-7. Two Hamilton kills paced a 5-0 sprint that allowed the Big Red to take the 16-7 lead on the Owls, while another 5-0 run featuring two Maeve Perry kills saw the lead balloon to 12. Katelyn Chiu finished off a commanding set two win with a service ace, as Denison moved ahead 2-0 in the match following the 25-11 win.

Aiming to get out of the match in three sets, Denison quickly built a third set lead, opening the set on an 8-3 run. Monachino and Hamilton scored kills in the opening sprint, while an ace from Devon Moore kept momentum high on the Big Red side of the net. Kenyon would threaten the lead midway through the set, as they turned a 16-12 game into a 16-15 affair, but a service error proved costly, as the side out lifted Denison. The Big Red would score four consecutive points off the error to build their lead to five, and after reaching the 20-point threshold, Denison continued to soar, winning five of the last nine rallies to win the match 3-0. Maeve Perry scored the final three points in Denison's sweep-clinching 25-19 win.

The Big Red had 49 kills in the sweep, hitting a season-best .358 in the victory. The 49 kills were the most scored in a three-set match this season. Claire Hamilton had a team-high 15 kills in the win, while Maeve Perry hit .417, scoring 12 kills and two block assists. Devon Moore had a team-high .476 hitting percentage, scoring 10 kills on 21 swings, while also adding 10 digs for her second career double-double. Whitley Metz had 10 digs in the win, and Amelia Kurtz had a team-best 24 assists on the night. 

Having clinched a home match in the NCAC Tournament Quarterfinals, Denison will look to add to its winning streak entering the postseason when they travel to Baldwin-Wallace next Friday.