ST. PAUL, Minn. – After losing a five-set heartbreaker to start the day, the Grinnell College volleyball team bounced back to win in the same fashion.
The Pioneers finished the Macalester Tournament with a come-from-behind 25-19, 24-26, 20-25, 25-17, 15-12 win over the host school to improve to 9-5 on the season. All-Tournament Team member
Kaylin Kuhn '21 pounded down 31 kills, fifth-best in program history and fourth-best for a five-set match, while hitting .343. She also had three aces.
All-Tourney Team selection
Payton Lowrey '22 added 13 kills and
Emma Willhardt '19 had 10. Willhardt also moved into the sixth-place spot on Grinnell's career solo blocks list with 88 and 10th in total blocks with 206.
Julianna Roth '22 had 51 assists and 12 digs, while
Madison Smith '20 had 30 digs. After falling behind 2-1 in sets, the Pioneers went to work as
Sidney Litke '19 opened the fourth set with a four-point service run as Grinnell took a 5-1 lead. Grinnell extended the lead to 9-2 en route to victory.
The deciding set was tight throughout, with the squads tied 10-all before Kuhn had a kill and Lowrey an ace to put the Pioneers up by two. After a Macalester point, Willhardt had a block and Litke an ace to put Grinnell a point from victory. After the Scots scored, Kuhn finished the match with kill.
Earlier in the day, Carleton knocked off Grinnell 27-25, 19-25, 12-25, 26-24 and 15-13. Kuhn had 22 kills and hit .308 while also coming up with 13 digs. Lowrey added 13 kills and Willhardt 10.
Grinnell served up 16 aces, ninth-best in program history and third-best for a five-set match. Lowrey and Smith each had five aces. Lowrey also contributed 25 digs and Smith 24. Roth dished out 52 assists and
Hannah Taylor '21 contributed five blocks.
After losing the first set, Grinnell broke away from a 7-all tie with a 9-4 run. The Pioneers kept it up in the third set, riding a seven-point Smith service run to victory. Grinnell led the fourth set 24-23 before the Knights scored three points to force a fifth set. Lowrey served Grinnell out to a 4-0 lead and the Pioneers were later ahead 9-2 before Carleton rallied for the victory.
Grinnell will participate in the Cornell College Tournament next weekend.
