GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College volleyball team was looking for its first Midwest Conference win Tuesday night, and the Pioneers responded in dominating fashion.
 
Grinnell rolled over Knox College 25-13, 25-14, 25-23 at Darby Gymnasium to improve to 1-2 in the league and 11-5 overall. The Prairie Fire, who are 0-3 in the MWC and 9-11 overall, were limited to just .059 in the hitting department.
 
Grinnell's hitting attack was balanced, with Kaylin Kuhn '21 and Sydney Vrecenar '18 pounding down nine kills each and Olivia Jensen '21 and Emma Willhardt '19 tallying eight apiece. Vrecenar hit at a .333 clip.
 
The Pioneers served up 11 aces, including five by Kuhn and two each by Vrecenar, Jensen and Deanna Taylor '18. Margaret Giles '18 tallied 31 assists and 12 digs. Taylor led the team in digs with 21, Vrecenar had 17 and Kuhn 15.
 
Grinnell limited Knox's big hitter, Rose Griffin, to just seven kills and a .148 hitting efficiency.
 
The first set was tied 5-all before the Pioneers opened things up with a seven-point run. Taylor served six of those points, including two aces.
 
Jensen and Kuhn each had four-point service runs as Grinnell opened up an 11-3 lead in the second set on its way to an easy win.
 
The third set was more competitive. Grinnell was up 15-12 before Knox scored three in a row for a tie. Later, the Pioneers went on a three-point run with two kills by Vrecenar and one by Jensen for a 22-19 edge.
 
Knox came back to tie things at 22-all and 23-all before Giles and Vrecenar finished things off with kills.
 
The Pioneers are back at Darby Gymnasium Friday when Beloit College visits for a Senior Night match. Action begins at 7 p.m.