CHICAGO, Ill. – Grinnell College's volleyball team provided a difficult test for nationally-ranked University of Chicago Saturday, as the Pioneers took a set from the Maroons before falling in four.
 
Chicago survived a 29-27 win in an opening-set marathon and then won 25-16 before the Pioneers stormed back, taking the third set 25-20. That set was tied 19-all before Grinnell finished it with a 6-1 run, as Olivia Jensen '22 had two kills and Kaylin Kuhn '22 and Emily Brewer '24 one apiece.
 
However, Chicago closed out the victory with a 25-16 win in the fourth set to improve to 13-8 on the season.
 
Kuhn had 19 kills to lead Grinnell and Jensen added 12. Brewer and Julianna Roth '23 added 24 and 21 assists, respectively, while Jenna Keller '24 led the team in digs with 17. Payton Lowrey '22 added 15 digs and Rachel Woock '23 came up with 12. Keller also had four blocks.
 
Grinnell followed with a four-set loss to Elmhurst University. After Elmhurst won the first two sets 25-5 and 28-26, Grinnell took the third 25-18. A six-point run was key, turning a one-point lead into a 21-14 edge. Roth's ace serve sparked the rally.
 
Elmhurst followed with a 25-19 victory to close out the match, though, improving to 14-10 in the process.
 
Grinnell, 17-12, shuffled 13 players into the match and was led by Woock's nine kills and Jensen's eight. Brewer dished out 15 assists, Lowrey served up two aces and added 25 digs, Sophie Weber '25 posted 15 digs and Jensen contributed two solo blocks.
 
During the matches, Lowrey moved up to third on Grinnell's career digs chart with 1,341.
 
Grinnell's biggest match to date is coming Wednesday when Cornell College visits Darby Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. bout. The winner will assure itself a share of the Midwest Conference title and hosting rights for the league tourney.