GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College Pioneers matched their longest winning streak in volleyball program history Friday night, downing Knox College in three sets to remain unbeaten in Midwest Conference play.
 
Grinnell's 25-21, 25-16, 25-20 win at Darby Gymnasium stretched its victory streak to nine matches, equaling the string of wins to start the 2019 campaign. The win was Grinnell's 13th against Knox in the past 15 meetings dating back to 2007.
 
Kaylin Kuhn '21 had 17 kills for Grinnell, 4-0 in the MWC, and Julianna Roth '22 tallied 36 assists and added 10 digs and two aces. Rachel Woock '23 had 15 digs, while Payton Lowrey '22 came up with 14 and also served three aces. Hannah Taylor '21 added four blocks as Grinnell improved to 19-2 overall.
 
The Pioneers led the first set just 21-20 before going on a three-point run, where Kuhn served two of the points. Woock later finished off the victory with a kill.
 
Grinnell trailed the early part of the second set and was up just 15-14 before going on a five-point spurt that included kills by Kuhn, Anna Killin '22 and Roth. The Pioneers cruised to victory from there.
 
Grinnell broke out to a 4-0 lead in the third set, with Kuhn pounding down two kills, Killin another and Lowrey serving an ace. The Pioneers never trailed from there as they finished off the win, sending Knox to 2-4 in the MWC and 9-13 overall.
 
The Pioneers have a week off before a big MWC test against St. Norbert College next Friday in De Pere, Wis. Both teams are unbeaten in league play entering the 7 p.m. affair.