Gambier, Ohio – The Oberlin College volleyball team started North Coast Athletic play in grand fashion, downing the Kenyon College Ladies in four sets on Friday night at Tomsich Arena. The Yeowomen took the match 24-26, 25-17, 25-18 and 25-22.
 
In the match-clinching fourth set, the Yeowomen were in a big 17-10 hole, but found a way to avoid going to a decisive fifth set. Back-to-back kills from Jillian Hostetler would ultimately square things up at 20-20. With the score later tied at 22, two consecutive attack errors by the ladies left Oberlin just one point away from the win. It would come courtesy of Hostetler as she sent down her 21^st kill of the match to send Oberlin home happy.
 
Claudia Scott added to the Yeowomen's potent attack with 18 kills as she hit an impressive .593 with just two errors on 27 swings. Ave Spencer chipped in with nine kills, while Dana Thomas added eight.
 
The opening set went down to the wire as the Yeowomen rallied to tie the game at 20. Oberlin later had game point with a 24-23 lead in hand, but the Ladies ripped off three straight points to take the set.
 
In the second stanza the Yeowomen raced out to an 8-3 lead and Kenyon would get no closer than three points the rest of the game as Oberlin was easily able to tie the match at one set each.
 
Oberlin would use the momentum in the third, coming back from an early 4-1 deficit to open up a 20-13 lead. The Yeowomen would go on to take the game by the same seven-point margin to setup the thrilling fourth set.
 
Meredith Leung had the Oberlin offense in rhythm with 50 assists and led the team with 13 digs.  Molly Powers added 12 digs, while first-year Emily Kelkar registered 10.
 
The win moved Oberlin moved to 4-7 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while Kenyon dropped to 6-5 and 0-1 in league play.
 
Oberlin will have a short time to celebrate as they go right back to work tomorrow afternoon against Wooster at 1 p.m. and will then conclude the day against former NCAC foe Earlham at 5 p.m.