Granville, Ohio- Following back-to-back conference wins, the Big Red volleyball team hosted the Owls from Kenyon College and the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University for a tri-team showdown on Saturday. Kicking action off with an in-conference opponent, the Big Red were able to down the Owls in three sets, earning their fourth conference win. In the second match, the Big Red took on another OAC foe in Ohio Northern. Ultimately, the Big Red swept the day, winning in five sets. 

Up Next: The Big Red will have a week of rest before returning to Livingston Gymnasium to take on the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin Wallace.

Match 1 (Denison 3, Kenyon 0) (25-20, 25-20, 25-14)

In the opening set, the Big Red jumped out to a strong 5-1 lead. A string of four straight points pushed the Big Red courtesy of two kills from Carolina Parkhurst and an ace from Ryan Kotalik.  Trailing by seven, the Owls rattled off six points to bring it within one. Ayla Dunbar served two aces and forced two errors to take back a strong lead. In the closing moments, Kate Sicklick notched an ace before the set was finished off by a kill from Parkhurst. 

The second set was much of the same story. Denison jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a four-point swing from Sicklick and Parkhurst. Later in the match, Maeve Perry and Whitley Metz contributed to a five-point. In the final points, Devon Moore recorded a kill as Claire Hamilton tallied the final three points for the Big Red. 

In the third and final set, Denison put together their best set of the day. Up six, the Big Red rattled off six in a row to all but seal the deal. Ayla Dunbar secured a pair of aces during the run. Denison kept the pressure up, forcing three errors to secure a clean sweep.

Sicklick led the way in the kill column for Denison, capturing 10 in the win. Perry and Moore tacked on nine apiece as well. Alice Kempf continued to lead the offense with 34 assists. Sadie Habeeb recorded 11 digs in the win. In the match, the Big Red did not trail once. 

Match 2 (Denison 3, Ohio Northern 2) (17-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-23, 15-13)

In the second match of the day, the Big Red were met by a fiery Ohio Northern squad. The Polar Bears surged to an early lead and were able to keep the red hot Denison team at bay. 

In the second set, the Big Red were able to even up the match. Knotted at seven all, Denison went on a pivotal three point swing courtesy of a huge ace from Alice Kempf.

The Polar Bears responded with a flurry of offensive attacks. A trio of kills from Emily Monachino was not enough to overcome the deficit late as Ohio Northern took a dangerous 2-1 lead. 

With backs against the wall, the Big Red put together a strong comeback in the fourth set.  After starting behind 7-1, Denison was able to knot the set back up at 12 all. Both teams went back and forth, but it was the Big Red that came out on top. A pair of four and three point runs were enough to seal the tying set. Ayla Dunbar recorded the final two points. 

In the deciding set, Denison was able to gain early momentum and slam the door shut to solidify the epic comeback. Yet again, Dunbar recorded the final two points in the set. 

Monachino led the kill column in the second set, earning 17. Dunbar and Perry grabbed 14 apiece. Amelia Kurtz led the assist column with 28 assists. Habeeb continued dominance in the dig column, collecting 22 in the win.