BELOIT, Wis. – Grinnell College's volleyball team found the perfect way to bounce back from Friday night's heart-breaking loss to Lake Forest College – by pounding the ball with authority and sweeping Beloit College in three sets Saturday afternoon.
 
Grinnell ripped 50 kills in the match, the sixth-best mark in program history for a three-setter, and hit .222. Kaylin Kuhn '21 led the way with 18 kills, 10 digs and two aces. Payton Lowrey '22 and Emma Willhardt '19 added nine and eight kills, respectively, while Lowrey also added 12 digs and Willhardt three total blocks. Willhardt now ranks fifth in program history for career solo blocks with 91.
 
Julianna Roth '22 tallied 40 assists and two aces and Madison Smith'20 had 15 digs as Grinnell improved to 3-1 in the Midwest Conference and 12-12 overall. The last time Grinnell was 3-1 in the MWC was 2010. Beloit fell to 1-2 in the MWC and 6-11 overall.
 
The first set was tied 10-all before Grinnell reeled off five of the next six points. Kuhn had two kills in that span and Lowrey and Willhardt one each as the Pioneers never looked back in gaining the win.
 
The Pioneers trailed the second set 18-17 before turning the tide with a seven-point run. Lowrey served six of those points and Willhardt and Kuhn each had a pair of kills. Grinnell led much of the third set before Beloit rallied, tying things at 23-all. However, Lowrey delivered a kill and Smith an ace to finish off the victory.
 
Grinnell returns to Darby Gymnasium Friday to entertain Monmouth College. Match time is 7 p.m.