The Basics
Score: MNU 3 – Grand View 0
Record: MNU (10-6, 6-3), Grand View (10-9, 5-4)
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Set Scores: 25-21, 25-17, 25-20

DES MOINES, Iowa – MNU completed a perfect weekend road trip with its second consecutive sweep, defeating Grand View 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.

MNU controlled most of the opening set after breaking an 8-8 tie. Back-to-back blocks helped the Pioneers move ahead 11-8, and MNU maintained the advantage the rest of the way. Grand View pulled within 20-19 late, but Kennedy Smalley answered with a kill and the Pioneers scored five of the final seven points. Mia Olson finished the 25-21 win with a kill.

The Pioneers took command much earlier in the second. Leading 8-6, MNU put together a five-point run behind Anna DeGraffenreid's serve. Smalley recorded two kills during the stretch and Dominika Bartosz added another as the lead grew to 13-6.

Grand View responded with five straight points to cut the margin to 13-11, but Smalley stopped the run with a kill. MNU quickly rebuilt the advantage, going ahead 19-12 before closing out the set 25-17.

Grand View scored the first two points of the third, but MNU answered with five straight behind Callie Winebarger's serve, including kills from Emily Mathis, Pola Madziewicz and Olson along with a Winebarger ace.

The Pioneers never surrendered the lead again. MNU stretched the margin to 18-10 and later led 23-16. Grand View made a late push to 24-20 before an attack error ended the match.

MNU hit .231 for the match with 41 kills while holding Grand View to .175. The Pioneers also finished with six service aces and 55 digs.

Olson delivered an outstanding offensive performance with nine kills on 12 swings without an error for a .750 hitting percentage. Smalley led MNU with 11 kills while hitting .333 and added two blocks. Laura Carbonell added six kills on .312 hitting.

DeGraffenreid recorded 18 assists and Winebarger added 16 assists, eight digs and two aces. Emily Mathis led MNU with 15 digs, while Nayeli Rodriguez also served two aces.

Turning Point
Grand View had cut MNU's second-set lead from 13-6 to 13-11 with five consecutive points. Smalley stopped the run with a kill, and the Pioneers responded by scoring six of the next seven points to rebuild the advantage to 19-12. MNU closed out the set 25-17 and never trailed after the opening two points of the third.

Individual Leaders
Kennedy Smalley: 11 kills, .333 hitting, 2 blocks
Mia Olson: 9 kills, .750 hitting, 2 blocks
Pola Madziewicz: 7 kills, 5 digs, 1 ace
Anna DeGraffenreid: 18 assists, 5 digs
Callie Winebarger: 16 assists, 8 digs, 2 aces
Emily Mathis: 15 digs, 5 assists, 1 ace

Up Next
The next match is Thursday at home vs. Missouri Baptist at 7:00.