GRINNELL, Iowa – Showing the same tenacity displayed throughout the Midwest Conference slate, Grinnell College's volleyball team gave traditional power St. Norbert College all it could handle Saturday afternoon.
 
St. Norbert won the first set 25-21, but the Pioneers stormed back to take the second 25-21. That provided the Green Knights their first set loss in conference play other than to league champ Cornell College.
 
St. Norbert rebounded, though, posting wins of 25-20 and 25-18 to win in four sets at Darby Gymnasium. The Green Knights all but sewed up a spot in the league tourney while improving to 6-1 in the MWC and 11-13 overall.
 
Grinnell is still in strong position to join St. Norbert in the four-team event, moving to 4-3 in the MWC and 12-10 in all matches.
 
Margaret Giles '18 dished out 29 assists, putting her in Grinnell's all-time career top 10 in that department with 1,767.
 
Olivia Fromm '17 tallied 11 kills, 19 digs and three service aces, while Sydney Vrecenar '18 had 21 digs and two aces.
 
Collecting three blocks each were Ariel Lepito '17, Evelyn Weidman '17 and Emma Willhardt '19.
 
St. Norbert broke out to a 16-8 lead in the first set and continued on for the win. The second set was tied at 14-all when the Pioneers went on a key 5-0 run. Vrecenar had four service points in that span, including an ace, while Willhardt, Emily Friedman '19 and Weidman all knocked down kills.
 
St. Norbert closed within 23-20 before Fromm delivered a kill. After St. Norbert scored, a service error by the Green Knights gave Grinnell the win.
 
Grinnell was within 17-15 in the third set before the Green Knights took off for the victory. In the fourth set, St. Norbert scored eight consecutive points to break a 6-all tie. The visitors kept going for the win.
 
The Pioneers hit the road next Friday to meet Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. Match time is 7:30 p.m.