GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's volleyball team put on a hit performance – literally – in a three-set sweep of Beloit College Saturday afternoon at Darby Gymnasium.
 
The Pioneers recorded a hitting efficiency of .382 - the 10th-best mark in program history - in the 25-5, 25-19, 25-15 win. Additionally, Kaylin Kuhn '21 recorded 18 kills and hit .500 while boosting her career kill total to 1,021. That ranks sixth at Grinnell all-time. 
 
Grinnell had 12 players see action as it improved to 3-0 in the Midwest Conference, the Pioneers' best start ever in league play, and 17-2 overall. Beloit, which hit in the negative numbers, fell to 0-3 in the league and 7-9 overall.
 
Julianna Roth '22 tallied 24 assists for Grinnell and also served three aces. She and Kuhn added 10 digs apiece and Payton Lowrey '22 had nine. Kuhn, Roth and Hannah Taylor '21 each had three blocks.
 
An 11-point service run by Roth allowed Grinnell to stretch a 5-2 lead in the opening set to a 17-2 cushion. Grinnell never looked back after that. The second set was a bit closer. Leading 13-11, the Pioneers went on a key five-point spurt with Roth serving four of those. She had an ace in that span as the Pioneers pulled away for the win.
 
The third set was a repeat of the second, as Grinnell turned a 13-11 lead into an 18-11 cushion with the aid of Roth's four-point service run. The Pioneers continued to roll and finished off the win.
 
Grinnell steps out of league play Wednesday when William Penn University visits Darby Gymnasium. Action begins at 7 p.m.