GRINNELL, Iowa – Facing perhaps its most critical Midwest Conference test this season, the Grinnell College volleyball team passed with flying colors.
In a battle of two teams fighting for spots in the league's postseason tournament, the Pioneers knocked off Lawrence University 25-23, 25-22, 15-25 and 25-18 Friday night at Darby Gymnasium.
The win, Grinnell's eighth in its last 10 outings, pushed the Pioneers to 4-2 in the MWC and 12-9 overall. Lawrence fell to 5-3 in the league and 10-13 in all matches.
Grinnell, off to its best start since the 2002 season, got 15 kills from
Olivia Fromm '17 and 10 from
Emily Friedman '19.
Margaret Giles '18 distributed 32 assists, while
Evelyn Weidman '17 and Fromm had two ace serves each.
Sydney Vrecenar '17 was one of four Pioneers in double-digit digs with 30. Giles added 18,
Christine Hood '17 tallied 16 and
Deanna Taylor '18 had 13.
Emma Willhardt '19 recorded four solo blocks and three assists.
The first set saw nine ties, the final at 22-all, when
Ariel Lepito '17 recorded a kill and Grinnell got another point on a Lawrence hitting error for a 24-22 edge. After the visitors scored, Lepito delivered a cross-court kill to secure the win.
Grinnell used a 5-1 run to pull away from an 8-6 lead for a 13-7 edge in the second set. Vrecenar and Taylor each served two points during the run.
The Pioneers built their lead as large as 20-12 and were at 24-17 when Lawrence made things interesting with a five-point run. However, Friedman fended off that comeback with a kill to make it two sets to zero in favor of Grinnell.
Lawrence shot out to a 10-4 lead in the third set en route to victory.
In the fourth set, Grinnell was up just one before going on a 7-2 run to pull away. Taylor served two points during the run and Friedman tallied two kills for a 15-9 lead.
Lawrence got within six points a few times after that, the final at 24-18, when a service error by the Vikings secured the win for Grinnell.
The Pioneers entertain St. Norbert College in another big league match Saturday. The first serve at Darby Gymnasium is slated for 1 p.m.
