PELLA, Iowa – A preseason exhibition match against Central College was a back-and-forth tussle for the Grinnell College volleyball team, and Tuesday night's regular-season match proved to be the same. 
 
In the end, Central emerged victorious with a 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, 15-25, 15-8 victory. 
 
Olivia Jensen '22 swung the hot hand for Grinnell, coming up with 16 kills while hitting .500. Kaylin Kuhn '22 added 13 kills and Rachel Woock '23 tallied 10. 
 
Emily Brewer '24 contributed 46 assists and three aces, while Jensen added two blocks. Four players were in double digits for digs, with Payton Lowrey '22 leading the way with 19 to move up to 10th all-time at Grinnell with 1,066. Woock added 17, Kuhn had 13 and Jenna Keller '24 tallied 10. 
 
Grinnell led the first set 16-14 before Central reeled off five straight points and never looked back. The second set saw Grinnell shoot out to an 8-2 lead, with Lowrey and Kuhn each posting ace serves. The Pioneers led the rest of the way to tie the match at 1-all. 
 
After Central won the third set comfortably, Grinnell returned the favor in the fourth by grabbing a 4-1 lead as Jensen had two kills and Kuhn one. After Central (4-4) came within one, the Pioneers responded with a four-point run as Brewer had an ace and Jensen and Keller each kills. Grinnell sailed from there to force a fifth set. 
 
The Pioneers scored the first point of the final set on Woock's ace, but the Dutch answered with four unanswered points and led the rest of the way. 
 
Grinnell has a busy weekend approaching, playing four matches in the Loras/Dubuque Tournament.