To the average person, they seem like a close group of friends. The conversation is flowing, and one would never suspect they just met. They do, however, share a connection: They are the University of Dayton's newest "triple threat," the three sets of triplets in this year's freshmen class.

 "Coming to UD has made us closer," Courtney Dvorsky said. "Being a triplet is all I've ever known, and it's nice to have a fallback, especially here."

 All three sets of triplets have ties to the university, which influenced their final decisions to attend UD. Family members of Mason, Ohio-area, triplets Courtney, Katelyn and Jared Dvorsky are UD graduates. Alan, Nico and Lucas Avila-John come from Bellbrook, Ohio, and their mother is the academic coordinator for the intensive English program at UD, while their father teaches at Wright State University. The mother of Glenview, Ill., triplets Paige, Matt and Jack Pontarelli also is a UD graduate.

 "We have many alumni legacy families at UD, and we know that when the university is woven into a family's life, this has positive influence on the student's decision to enroll," said Kathy Harmon, dean of admissions and director of student success.

 In each average year, about 200 students who enroll have alumni parents or grandparents. Last academic year, 574 undergraduate students had at least one sibling enrolled, according to research by the university's advancement division.

 Each set of triplets has unique experiences with their siblings that have helped them develop deeper friendships. Being a triplet is more than just a title; it's an understanding of family ties.

 "I hate being a loner," Alan Avila-John said, and the others agreed. "There is a sense of comfort and support when it comes to triplets, especially when there is always someone there to spend time with."

Eating lunch alone on campus is never a problem either, as all nine triplets have a few lunch buddies amongst each other.

 The Avila-John triplets have played soccer together since they were young. They drive and push each other in the sport, but at the end of the day, the competitiveness of the game doesn't get in the middle of their relationships, they said.

 For the Dvorsky triplets, being close is what matters. They used to be put in different corners of the room while in their cribs, but eventually all crawled out and met in the middle of the room.

 While all nine freshman are looking forward to experiencing college with their siblings, they now have an opportunity to branch out and become something other than "one of the triplets." They have declared different majors and plan on getting involved in their own extracurricular activities, they said.

 Their living situations have changed, as well. For the first time, Nico, Lucas and Alan Avila-John are not living together. Katelyn, Courtney and Jared Dvorsky live in Stuart Complex together, but in different halls.

 Even though the three sets of triplets never knew each other before coming to UD, they are embracing the university setting and are getting to know one another through their shared experiences.