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GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College volleyball team opened its 2013 campaign with a pair of hard-fought three-set losses Friday at the first-ever Grinnell Labor Day Classic at Darby Gymnasium.

The Pioneers fell 25-18, 25-17 and 25-15 to the University of Minnesota-Morris and then lost 25-20, 25-18 and 25-15 to William Penn University.

In the Minnesota-Morris match, Claire Weidman '15 hit .370 with a match-high 12 kills, while Natalie Duncombe '15 and Olivia Fromm '17 came up with five kills apiece. Weidman had two aces and Duncombe came up with a combined two blocks.

Jeanette Au '16 and Madeline Warnick '16 dished out eight assists each, while Emma Knatterud-Johnson '15 had eight digs.

Grinnell fell behind 20-9 in the first set before closing to 23-18 on Weidman's ace serve. But the visitors scored twice to finish off the win. The Pioneers got in an early hole again in the second set, but in the third stayed close early and went ahead 10-8 on an attack error by the visitors. However, Grinnell was hit with a four-point run by Minnesota-Morris and the hosts never could regain the lead.

In the match with William Penn, Weidman had nine kills and Fromm seven. Liz Nelson '17, a Grinnell High graduate making her Pioneer debut, came up big at the net with two solo blocks and five assists. Weidman had four total blocks, Lindsay Fujimoto '15 added 17 digs, Jeanette Au '16 chipped in with 12 assists and Jennifer Joy '16 served two aces.

The first set was close most of the way, with Grinnell leading 16-15 after Weidman's service ace. However, William Penn went on a 6-1 run to pull away. The Pioneers got out to a 4-1 lead in the second set and still led a bit later when a service error by the Statesmen made it 10-9. Again, William Penn put together a run to pull away.

Natalie Duncombe's '15 kill gave the Pioneers their biggest lead in the third set at 8-4. But William Penn responded, scoring 10 of the next 11 points. Grinnell stayed close, though, tying it at 14-all on a block by Evelyn Weidman '17, but William Penn tallied the next nine points to all but secure the win.

Grinnell concludes the tourney Saturday with three more matches.