Grinnell Volleyball Falls to Carleton in Four-Set Battle

The Grinnell College volleyball team put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to Carleton College in four sets on September 14, 2024, at the Leonard Center. The final score was 3-1 in favor of Carleton (25-15, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21), dropping Grinnell to 8-3 on the season.

Grinnell struggled early on, dropping the first two sets as Carleton’s strong defense and efficient offense set the tone. Carleton’s Kerrigan Candra led the charge with five kills in the match, while Jennifer Bricker added seven kills and was instrumental at the net with key blocks.

In the third set, Grinnell found their rhythm. Jenna Keller and Hayley Taka led the way with powerful attacks, combining for 16 and 11 kills respectively. Keller, hitting .278, was Grinnell’s most consistent offensive threat, while Taka chipped in both offensively and defensively with 10 digs. The Pioneers took the third set 25-22, keeping the match alive.

The fourth set was a back-and-forth battle with Grinnell staying close, but Carleton pulled ahead late with key plays from Sylvia Dixon and Candra to seal the victory.

Emily Brewer was a standout for Grinnell, providing 29 assists and 15 digs, orchestrating the team’s offense and keeping the defense steady. Sophie Weber anchored the back row with a team-high 21 digs, but despite the defensive efforts, Carleton’s balanced attack proved too much.

Key Stats for Grinnell:

Jenna Keller: 16 kills, .278 hitting percentage
Hayley Taka: 11 kills, 10 digs
Emily Brewer: 29 assists, 15 digs
Sophie Weber: 21 digs