GALESBURG, Ill. - Grinnell College's volleyball team is off to its best start in Midwest Conference play since 2011 after topping Knox College in four sets Tuesday night.

The Pioneers, 2-0 in the league and 11-11 overall, claimed the first two sets 25-22 and 25-14. After Knox won the third set 25-21, Grinnell roared back by taking the fourth 25-19. With the setback, Knox dipped to 0-3 in the MWC and 4-12 in all contests.

Kaylin Kuhn '21, the national leader in kills per set, again led the way for Grinnell with 17. Payton Lowrey '22 added 11 kills and Julianna Roth '22 contributed 43 assists. Double-digit digs were accumulated by Madison Smith '20 (23), Kuhn (15) and Lowrey (12). Anna Killin '22 had four total blocks and Smith four service aces.

The first set was tight throughout, with Grinnell leading 22-21 late before finishing it off with a 3-1 run. Hannah Taylor '21 had a kill in that span. In the second set, the Pioneers broke away from a 13-all tie with a six-point run. Kuhn served five of those points and Killin added two kills and Lowrey one. Grinnell went on to win with ease.

After seeing Knox take the third set, the Pioneers wasted litte time in the fourth by breaking out to a 10-4 lead. Roth had a six-point service run and had two aces during that time, while Kuhn pounded down two kills. Grinnell coasted to victory from there.

Grinnell takes to the road for two more MWC contests this weekend, facing Lake Forest College at 7 p.m. Friday and Beloit College at 1 p.m. Saturday.