GRINNELL, Iowa – In a match pitting two volleyball teams unbeaten in Midwest Conference play, Illinois College escaped Darby Gymnasium with a sweep over Grinnell College Friday night.
 
The Lady Blues (11-10, 3-0 MWC) won a pair of back and forth sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-22 before posting a 25-14 win in the last set.
 
Malaina Miles '24 hit a career-best .583 for the Pioneers (9-12, 2-1 MWC), knocking down seven kills on 12 swings with no errors. Jenna Keller '24 led the team in kills with 11 and Hayley Taka '26 had nine.
 
Emily Brewer '24 dished out 25 assists and was one of three Pioneers in double-digit digs with 10. Sophie Weber '25 tallied 20 digs and Keller contributed 11.
 
Illinois College bolted out to an 11-5 lead in the first set, but Grinnell rallied under the serve of Emmy Nyquist '24 to tie things at 11-all. Nyquist moved up to ninth on Grinnell's career sets played list during the match with 344 and 10^th in matches played with 112.
 
The lead switched multiple times after that, with Grinnell going ahead 20-18 on Taka's kill. However, Illinois College reeled off three points in a row before Keller stopped the rally with a kill to tie things at 21-all.
 
The Lady Blues followed with four straight points for the win. The second set was also nip and tuck, with Grinnell tying things at 22-all in the late going on Keller's serve. However, Illinois College closed out the set with three consecutive points.
 
Nyquist's service ace in the third set pulled Grinnell even at 6-all before the Lady Blues took the lead for good with a three-point run.
 
Grinnell will look to return to its winning ways Saturday when Knox College visits Darby Gymnasium. Match time is 2 p.m.