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Grinnell Posts First-Ever Win Over St. Norbert
Story Courtesy of the Grinnell Athletics Site
Friday night’s five-set excitement-filled victory by the Grinnell College volleyball team over St. Norbert College was not just any ordinary win – it ranked among the top triumphs in program history.
Grinnell posted the first victory over the two-time defending MWC champs in nine tries, and also snapped the Green Knights’ 21-match conference winning streak dating back to 2007, winning by scores of 25-13, 16-25, 25-13, 19-25 and 15-11 at Darby Gymnasium.
Grinnell, which broke a four-match losing streak, hit a blistering .389 in the first set compared to St. Norbert’s .057 to win comfortably. After the Green Knights roared back to take the second set, the Pioneers were winning the third set 20-9 when the fire alarm sounded. Though a false alarm, the gymnasium was evacuated before play resumed 25 minutes later.
Grinnell went on to win by 12 points, holding St. Norbert to a negative hitting efficiency in the set. The Green Knights rolled back to take the fourth set and force a deciding set.
St. Norbert got out to a 6-3 lead, but an attack error brought the Pioneers within two points before Olivia Wilks ’12 served four straight points to put the hosts up by two. Gillian Dryjanski ’12, Bonnie Kircher ’12 and Michelle Briggs ’13 all had kills in that run.
But St. Norbert rallied to force three ties, at 8-all, 9-all and 10-all, before Grinnell took the lead for good on Briggs’ kill. Kate Duran ’12 then served three straight points, two ended by Green Knight attack errors and the other by Claire Reeder’s ’11 kill, to go up 14-10.
St. Norbert then got a point, but Dryjanski sent the Pioneer players and fans into celebration when her kill off Wilks’ assist sealed the win.
Kircher had 16 kills to lead Grinnell, while Briggs and Reeder had 14 apiece and Elizabeth Davis ’11 10. Dryjanski hit .286 for the match and Wilks .273.
Wilks also had 52 assists and 20 digs. Erin Labasan ’11 led the team in digs with 24, Kircher had 12 and Duran and Reeder 10 apiece. Dryjanski, Briggs and Reeder added two blocks apiece and Wilks served two aces.
Grinnell is now 2-1 in the MWC and 8-9 overall, while St. Norbert fell to 1-1 in the league and 14-5 in all matches.
The Pioneers celebrate Senior Day Saturday when Lawrence University visits Darby Gymnasium. Match time is 1 p.m.
