Grinnell Falls to Coe in Straight Sets at Kohawk Arena

On September 6, 2024, at Kohawk Arena, the Grinnell women’s volleyball team faced off against Coe College, ultimately falling in straight sets (25-21, 25-17, 25-19). This match dropped Grinnell’s record to 1-3, while Coe improved to 6-1.

Despite a valiant effort, Grinnell struggled to keep pace with Coe’s offensive firepower. Millie Leonard led the charge for Grinnell, registering 13 kills with a .647 hitting percentage. Hayley Taka added nine kills, while Jenna Keller contributed with seven. Taka also showed her versatility with solid defensive work, tallying 11 digs and contributing a service ace.

Grinnell had moments of momentum, especially during the first set, which saw multiple lead changes. However, Coe’s balanced attack proved too much for Grinnell to overcome. Coe’s Maggie Furlong and Kelsey Hansel were key contributors, with Furlong racking up 7 kills and Hansel adding 5 kills, hitting .167 on the day.

The second and third sets saw Grinnell’s struggles at the net continue as Coe built on their lead with efficient side-out percentages, including a 77% success rate in the second set. Errors at key moments also hindered Grinnell’s efforts, including a .159 team hitting percentage and a total of 16 attack errors.

Grinnell will look to bounce back as they continue their season, while Coe continues to build on their impressive early-season performance.
Key Stats:

Grinnell Hitting Percentage: .228
Coe Hitting Percentage: .120
Top Killers for Grinnell: Millie Leonard (13), Hayley Taka (9), Jenna Keller (7)
Top Killers for Coe: Maggie Furlong (7), Kelsey Hansel (5)
Total Team Blocks: Grinnell (6), Coe (5)
Match Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes
Attendance: 95