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Keira Sullivan
Ted Schultz
2
Simpson SIM 5-6,0-0 American Rivers
3
Winner Grinnell GC 10-3,0-0 Midwest
Simpson SIM
5-6,0-0 American Rivers
2
Final
3
Grinnell GC
10-3,0-0 Midwest
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Simpson SIM 25 16 23 25 9 (2)
Grinnell GC 17 25 25 21 15 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Ted Schultz

GC netters win 5-set thriller over Simpson

GRINNELL, Iowa - Just a week ago in Darby Gymnasium, Grinnell College's volleyball team dropped a heart-breaking five-setter to Nebraska Wesleyan University.

On Wednesday night, battling another American Rivers Conference squad to five sets, the Pioneers turned the tables in their favor.

Grinnell outlasted Simpson College 17-25, 25-16, 25-23, 21-25, 15-9 before an enthusiastic crowd to improve to 10-3. That is the best start to a season for the Pioneers since the historic 2019 campaign.

The deciding fifth set saw Grinnell fall behind 3-1 and 6-4 before going on a critical four-point run that included kills by Jenna Keller '25 and Ella O'Neill '25 and ace serve by Nicole Mylinski '26. 

After Simpson scored to interrupt the streak and make it 8-7, the Pioneers reeled off five points in a row in a run that included a kill by Keller and ace by Emily Brewer '25. It was later 14-9 before Hayley Taka '26 finished off the win with a kill.

Simpson, 5-6 on the season, was limited to a .099 hitting efficiency by the Pioneers' tough-as-nails defense. Keller led Grinnell's hitting attack with 20 kills while hitting .245. Millie Leonard '27 and Keira Sullivan '27 each had 11 kills, with Leonard posting a .375 efficiency

Brewer distributed 42 assists and served three aces, pushing her career total to 137. That ranks fifth in program history. Gabby Choy '26 added four aces, Taka and O'Neill each had two blocks and Sophie Weber '25 posted 22 digs. Brewer contributed 17 digs.

After losing the first set, Grinnell bolted out to a 4-1 lead in the second. Later, leading 14-12, the Pioneers pulled away with a five-point run and never looked back.

Grinnell had control nearly the entire third set before a late run by Simpson pulled the visitors within 24-23. But an attack error gave Grinnell the victory. Simpson came back to win the fourth set to pave the way to the exciting finale.

Grinnell hosts a double dual Friday at Darby Gymnasium, playing Loras College at 4 p.m. and Augustana College at 8 p.m. Loras and Augustana meet at 6 p.m.


 
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