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Ted Schultz
2
Coe Coe 15-8,4-1 American Rivers
3
Winner Grinnell GC 10-12,3-1 Midwest
Coe Coe
15-8,4-1 American Rivers
2
Final
3
Grinnell GC
10-12,3-1 Midwest
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Coe Coe 25 25 23 25 16 (2)
Grinnell GC 20 18 25 27 18 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Ted Schultz

Grinnell volleyball team pulls off remarkable reverse sweep against tough Coe College squad

GRINNELL, Iowa - If Grinnell College's volleyball team was in danger of suffering any after-effects from Tuesday's five-set loss at Illinois College, those worries were put to rest Thursday night in Darby Gymnasium.

The Pioneers pulled off a dramatic reverse sweep over a strong Coe College squad, dropping the opening two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-18 before reeling off victories of 25-23, 27-25 and 18-16.

The victory marked Grinnell's first at home over Coe since 1997 as the Pioneers improved to 10-12. The Kohawks, who were coming off a five-set victory over Cornell College on Tuesday, fell to 15-8.

Grinnell combined timely hitting, strong blocking (a season-best nine total blocks) and stellar defensive effort to claim the victory. Millie Leonard '27 was especially dominating at the net, tallying a career-high 22 kills while hitting at a .606 clip. Hayley Taka '26 added 13 kills.

Marlowe Hurst '28 distributed a career-best 26 assists and Kylie-Ann Smith '27 added 21. Leonard served up three aces and Smith and Keira Sullivan '27 each had career-highs with 19 digs. Gracie Lim '28 added 13 digs, while Taka and Hurst came up with 10 apiece. Hurst's was a career-best.

After losing the first two sets, Grinnell caught fire in the third by grabbing a 4-0 lead right off the bat on Sullivan's serve. The Pioneers extended their lead to 23-14 before the Kohawks rallied, closing within 24-23 when Kylie Snell '26 completed the set with a kill.

The fourth set was close throughout, with the Kohawks building a 21-19 lead in the late stages. But Sullivan and Snell followed with kills and Hurst served an ace to give the advantage to Grinnell at 22-21. Coe followed with a two-point run before a bad set on the Kohawks forced a 23-all tie. The Kohawks then scored to reach match point, but consecutive kills by Taka put Grinnell ahead 25-24. After the Kohawks scored, an attack error by the visitors and kill by Kinsey Carrigan '29 forced a fifth set.

A five-point run early in the final set pushed Grinnell ahead 9-3. Leonard had two kills during that spurt. Grinnell reached match point at 14-10 before the Kohawks rattled off four consecutive points. Leonard's kill gave Grinnell another match point, but Coe followed with two points of its own to build a 16-15 cushion. The Pioneers refused to fold, though, as Leonard recorded a kill and Taka served consecutive points to finish off the Kohawks.

Grinnell returns to Midwest Conference play Saturday when Ripon College visits Darby Gymnasium. The first serve is set for 1 p.m.
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