RIPON, Wis. – The Grinnell College volleyball team bounced back from its first league loss of the season in impressive fashion Saturday afternoon, rolling over Ripon College in a three-set sweep.
 
With the aid of Olivia Jensen's '22 blistering .706 hitting efficiency, which ranks sixth in program history, the Pioneers cruised to a 25-9, 25-23, 25-16 win to improve to 5-1 in the Midwest Conference and 20-3 overall. The 2019 club is the third in program history to reach 20 victories.
 
Jensen had 12 kills with no errors in 17 attempts. Kaylin Kuhn '21 added 14 kills and Rachel Woock '23 tallied 12. Julianna Roth '22 dished out 26 assists and Julia Welch '22 tallied 11 as Grinnell had 44 for the match, the 10th-best in program history for a three-setter.
 
Woock led the team in digs with 13, while Kuhn and Payton Lowrey '22 added 10 apiece. Jensen and Sophia Carbajal '21 each had three blocks.
 
Grinnell trailed the first set 2-1 before going on an eight-point run to take command. Lowrey served an ace in that span and Anna Killin '22 added three kills as the Pioneers went on to win with ease.
 
The second set was a tougher ordeal, as Grinnell withstood numerous Ripon charges. After Ripon used a 5-1 run to close within 23-22, an attack error by the hosts put Grinnell at set point. After a Red Hawk point, Woock put down the kill to secure the victory.
 
Grinnell led the third set just 8-7 before scoring six of the next seven points to get some breathing room. Jensen and Woock each had two kills in the run as the Pioneers went ahead 14-8.
 
Grinnell continued to sail from there to earn the win, sending Ripon to 1-6 in the MWC and 3-19 in all matches.
 
The Pioneers return to action Friday with a key league match at Illinois College. Action in Jacksonville, Ill., begins at 7 p.m.