GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College volleyball team made quick work of Illinois College Saturday afternoon to improve to 2-0 in the Midwest Conference and 11-8 in all matches.
 
The Pioneers needed just 1 hours, 6 minutes to collect the 25-20, 25-14, 25-22 sweep at Darby Gymnasium while running their winning streak to three matches.
 
The Pioneers had 49 kills in the match, the ninth-most in program history for a three-setter.
 
Grinnell hit .306 as a team, the second-best effort of the season, and were led a the net by Kaylin Kuhn '22 (14 kills, .289 efficiency), Jenna Keller '24 (12 kills, .381), Olivia Jensen '22 (11 kills, .579) and Rachel Woock '23 (.417).
 
Julianna Roth '23 provided 24 assists and Emily Brewer '24 added 12. Kuhn and Payton Lowrey '22 each served up three aces, while Lowrey also had 16 digs.
 
The first set was tight throughout before Grinnell finished it on a 4-0 run thanks to kills by Jensen and Woock. The Pioneers led 13-11 in the second set before going on an eight-point run on Lowrey's serve. She had an ace in that span and Kuhn added three kills.
 
The final set was nip and tuck the whole way with Grinnell's lead never being more than three the second half of it. With the hosts ahead 24-22, Jensen finished it off with a kill to send the Lady Blues to 1-1 in the league and 5-7 in all matches.
 
Grinnell plays its first road MWC match Friday at Beloit College. Action begins at 7 p.m.