Grinnell Falls in Five-Set Thriller to Nebraska Wesleyan
In a hard-fought match that went down to the wire, Grinnell College narrowly lost to Nebraska Wesleyan in a five-set battle on September 11, 2024, at Darby Gym. Nebraska Wesleyan outlasted Grinnell 3-2 (25-23, 25-16, 20-25, 19-25, 14-16), improving their record to 7-2, while Grinnell dropped to 6-2.
Grinnell came out strong, winning the first set 25-23 behind standout performances from Jenna Keller and Keira Sullivan. Keller, who finished the match with 17 kills, helped anchor Grinnell’s offense, while Sullivan contributed 15 kills of her own. The team hit .293 in the opening set, but Nebraska Wesleyan quickly regrouped and took the next two sets.
The Prairie Wolves dominated the second set, winning 25-16, as their offense, led by Addie Thomas and Kobie Patten, started to click. Thomas registered a match-high 22 kills, and Patten added 13 kills. Grinnell struggled to find consistency in the second and third sets, hitting just .082 in the third as Nebraska Wesleyan went up 2-1.
Grinnell bounced back in the fourth set, overcoming a strong Nebraska Wesleyan attack to win 25-19. Key defensive plays, including a team-high 31 digs from Sophie Weber, helped Grinnell force a decisive fifth set.
The final set was a nail-biter, with both teams exchanging leads. Keller and Sullivan continued to produce for Grinnell, but Nebraska Wesleyan managed to edge out the victory 16-14, securing the match with a service ace from Addie Thomas.
Despite the loss, Grinnell showed resilience, with multiple players contributing. Emily Brewer added 12 assists and 14 digs, and Millie Leonard chipped in with 10 kills and strong defense at the net.
