JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Grinnell College emerged victorious in a thrilling five-set victory over Illinois College Saturday in a key Midwest Conference volleyball contest.
 
The Pioneers outlasted the Lady Blues 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 19-25 and 15-10 to improve to 3-3 in the league and 14-7 in all contests. Illinois College is also 3-3 in the MWC and 9-12 in all contests.
 
Emma Willhardt '19 put down a career-high 19 kills for Grinnell while hitting .390, while Kaylin Kuhn '21 had 17 kills and Olivia Jensen '21 tallied 14.
 
Margaret Giles '18 tied a career-high with 60 assists, and five Pioneers had double-digit digs. Giles led the way with 19, Kuhn and Deanna Taylor '18 had 18, Sydney Vrecenar '18 tallied 15 and Madison Smith '20 came up with 14.
 
Jensen had four block assists.
 
After losing the first set, Grinnell rallied from an 8-4 deficit in the second to win. A 10-3 run sparked the rally, which included service aces by Taylor and Jensen and kills by Hannah Taylor '21 and Giles. That helped Grinnell go up 14-11 and never look back.
 
The third set was tied 20-all before the Pioneers finished things off. A kill by Jensen made it 21-20 and ace by Vrecenar put Grinnell up by two.
 
An attack error by the Lady Blues made it 23-20. After the hosts scored two points, Kuhn delivered two kills and the win.
 
After Illinois College took the fourth set, Grinnell built a 7-4 lead in the fifth and never looked back. Jensen and Kuhn each had two service points in that span.
 
Leading 11-8 a bit later, Kuhn pounded down consecutive kills to put Grinnell up by five. Illinois College scored two of the next three points, but Willhardt sent in a kill to finish off the set and match.
 
The Pioneers continue MWC play next weekend with matches at Lawrence University and St. Norbert College.