Grinnell College won its second straight Midwest Conference match, the latest a 3-1 victory against the Prairie Fire, Thursday night at Darby Gym in Grinnell, Iowa.

The Pioneers (4-10, 2-0 MWC) began MWC play with a 3-1 win September 20 at Beloit College and now sit atop the league standings early in the season.  Knox (0-12, 0-2 MWC) resumes MWC play September 30 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Norbert College (8-4, 0-0 MWC).

Grinnell won the first set 25-12.  The Prairie Fire came back to win the second set 25-22 before falling in the third 25-12 and 25-11 in the fourth.

Junior Kristin McDonald (Chicago, Illinois) had eight kills for the Fire.  Senior Lisa Blagg (Winthrop Harbor, Illinois) added a team-high 13 assists and junior Brittany Wisniewski (Park Ridge, Illinois) recorded a match-high 18 digs.

Senior Kelly Ricketts (Galesburg, Illinois) contributed six kills and seven digs and sophomore Kaylie Prince (Westminster, Colorado) had four kills, 14 digs, a solo block and a block assist.

The Prairie Fire plays four matches Friday and Saturday at the Luther College Tournament. 

Knox takes on host Luther Friday at 3:30 p.m. then goes up against Alverno College at 5:30 p.m.  Saturday's matches are against Simpson College at 10:00 a.m. and Waldorf College at 12:00 p.m.

The Prairie Fire returns home on October 7 to play Carroll University at 7:00 p.m.