Grinnell Storms Back to Down Lady Blues

Box Score
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Illinois College volleyball team closed a tough weekend on the road with a 3-1 loss (25-21, 15-25, 22-25, 21-25) to Grinnell College on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers improved to 11-9 (3-2 Midwest Conference) with the win, while IC dropped to 13-10 (3-4 MWC).

Illinois College got the match off to a positive start. Trailing 14-10 in the first set, IC scored seven straight points that included three kills and a block from Lisa Lowry to make it 17-14. Though Grinnell would rally to tie the score, the Lady Blues pulled ahead again and the set ended on a Lowry kill and Brenna Garland ace as IC took the 25-21 victory.

Things went downhill after that for Illinois College. Tied at 11-11 in the second set, Grinnell exploded to score 14 of the next 18 points and take a 25-15 victory to level the match at a set apiece.

In the third set, Grinnell jumped out to a 9-3 lead and extended it to 14-5 midway through. After going down by double-digits at 19-9, Illinois College rallied within two points twice but didn't have enough left in the tank to come all the way back in a 25-22 defeat.

In the final set, Illinois College led as late as 19-18 following a block from Maddie Ramsey and Ali Pankey, however the Pioneers answered with three consecutive points to take a 21-19 lead and they would close it out from there.

Lowry led the Lady Blues on the afternoon with 14 kills, while Pankey added 10. Ramsey and Rebecca Shields had nine and seven kills, respectively. Elizabeth Ganley recorded yet another double-double from her setter position, ending with 31 assists and 10 digs. Cheyanne Jockisch led IC with 15 digs, while Garland added 12 digs and Katie Tonry chipped in with 10.

Illinois College returns home to the friendly confines of Sherman Gymnasium next weekend for its final two MWC matches of the season. The Lady Blues host Lake Forest College on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and Beloit College on Oct. 22 at 12 p.m.