Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 It was about as good an opening day of action as Hamline head volleyball coach Becky Egan could have envisioned. The Pipers started 2016 on the right foot, winning two matches. HU swept by Buena Vista, 3-0 and then defeated host Grinnell, 3-1 Friday at Darby Gymnasium in Iowa.

Julia Zolnosky picked up where she left off last year, recording 23 kills in the sweep. There were three others close behind: Danica Hanson recorded 16 while Beth Goodman and newcomer Cass Bittle added 15 each.  Another newcomer – Morgan Coleman – added 32 assists with Amelia Jensen kicking in 16 and Jena Mayer 11.
Jensen led the way with 42 assists with Coleman adding 26 and Marisa Franco 21.

There were some tight moments in the first two sets against BVU with Hamline using streak to earn wins. In the opening set, HU trailed 17-16 before rattling off six straight points to take control. The script was similar in Game 2. Hamline broke a 9-all with five in a row and seemed in control over to have the Beavers come back to force a 19-all deadlock. The Pipers then grabbed the next three points to earn the win.

There was no such drama in the next round. Hamline led from the start and kept the Beavers at bay all the way.  HU hit a solid .219 for the match with Zolnosky leading the attack with a dozen kills. Coleman had a like number of assists with Jensen supplying 15 digs and a pair of service aces.

HU jumped on the host Pioneers for a 25-19 decision but succumbed to a rally for a 25-21 setback in the second set. Hamline then steadied the front and registered decisive 25-16 and 25-17 wins to win the match.  A strong Piper defense held the Pioneers to a meager .052 hitting percentage for the night.  HU had a solid back wall as well with 99 siga with Jensen leading the way with 27. Goodman had 12 kills and five blocks to lead the HU offensive attack.

Hamline opens the home season Sept. 6 against Crown at Hutton Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m.