Box Score GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College volleyball team nearly pulled off the ultimate comeback before losing a five-set thriller to Monmouth College Friday night at Darby Gymnasium.
 
After dropping the first two sets of the Senior Night affair, Grinnell reeled off wins in the next two before losing the fifth. Set scores, in favor of Monmouth, were 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 22-25 and 15-10.
 
Grinnell is now 2-7 in the Midwest Conference and 8-19 overall, while the Fighting Scots moved to 2-8 in the league and 8-21 in all contests.
 
Evelyn Weidman '17 had a huge night at the net for Grinnell, pounding down a team-high 13 kills and hitting a whopping .407. She also had four total blocks.
 
Sarah Garringer '18 added 12 kills and Natalie Duncombe '15 had 11. Margaret Giles '18 had 45 assists, 12 digs and two service aces, while Lindsay Fujimoto '15 tallied 32 digs. Sydney McClendon '16 added 11 digs.
 
The first set was tied 13-all before the visitors went on a 6-2 run to pull away. Monmouth shot out to a 12-4 lead in the second set and never looked back, leaving the Fighting Scots just one set from victory.
 
But Grinnell refused to fold. Leading just 6-5 in the third set, the Pioneers ripped off 10 of the next 13 points to take command. McClendon had four service points during that span, while Rebecca Rasmussen '16 and Garringer each had two kills.
 
The Pioneers trailed the fourth set 19-16 before catching fire for a 22-21 lead. Giles served four points and Claire Weidman '15 and Evelyn Weidman each had a kill.
 
After Monmouth tied the score at 21-all, a pair of attack errors by the visitors allowed Grinnell to go ahead 23-21. Monmouth then scored before Duncombe pounded down a kill and Evelyn Weidman served the final point for the win.
 
Grinnell led the decisive set 4-3 before the Fighting Scots went on a key 7-1 run en route to victory.
 
The Pioneers close out their campaign Saturday when Knox College visits Darby Gymnasium. Match time is 1 p.m.