MISHAWAKA, Ind. — In the fight to climb out of a tough start to the conference tilt, the Bethel Pilots (11-7, 2-4) fell to the Grace Lancers (11-2, 5-1) in a four-set loss 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 16-25, 18-25) in the Manahan OCC in Winona Lake, Ind. on Saturday.
Paige Franz had a great night with a near double-double with a team-high 21 digs and nine assists for her fourth-straight double-digit night in digs and six digs shy of her season-high 27 digs.
Gracen Norris tied her season-high team-leading 12 kills in her fifth consecutive start for her freshman season and found her place in the rotation.
The first set tied at 11-11 then 14-14 before the Lancers took off to a 20-15 lead and held the Pilots to a 25-20 set one loss.
Grace jumped to a 7-4 advantage to start the second set but a Lancer attack error and then a kill by Maddy Payne gave the Pilots their first advantage of the set 12-11. From that lead, the Pilots rode the lead to the set two victory 25-18.
Grace took the third set holding the advantage to the 25-16 Lancer victory and took the 2-1 set advantage the fourth set was tied 8-8 by the Pilots climbing out of an early deficit, then the Lancers sealed the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.
The Pilots are back in action in the Gates Gymnasium on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.