GRINNELL, Iowa - The Grinnell College and Simpson College volleyball teams gave the fans their money's worth Tuesday night, battling toe-to-toe in a five-set thriller.

After losing the opening set 25-20, Grinnell raced back with wins of 29-27 and 25-23. However, the hosts won the fourth set 25-18 and secured the win with a 15-11 decision in the fifth to improve to 2-3 on the season.

Grinnell, 4-1, got six service aces from Kaylin Kuhn '21, the seventh-most aces for a five-set match in program history. As a team, Grinnell piled up 12 aces which ranks eighth for a five-set match.

Kuhn also had 17 kills and 21 digs, while Julianna Roth '22 tallied 40 assists. Julia Welch '22 had 19 digs and Sidney Litke '19 added 10. Emma Willhardt '19 totaled seven blocks.

After Simpson won the first set, the teams battled evenly the second which saw several ties down the stretch. Grinnell was down 27-26 when Kuhn had a kill and ace and Hannah Taylor '21 a kill to give the Pioneers the win. The third set was more of the same in terms of closeness. Ahead just 23-22, Kuhn had a kill and Simpson an attack error to put the Pioneers one set from victory.

The Storm pulled away in the fourth set to win and got out to a quick lead in the fifth. Grinnell closed within 12-11 late on a Simpson attack error before the Storm went on to win.

The Pioneers play their first action of the season at Darby Gymnasium Friday and Saturday when they host a tournament.