Grace Volleyball falls in thrilling NAIA Opening Round
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s volleyball team lost a wild NAIA Opening Round match to Missouri Baptist in five sets on Saturday night.
The match saw Grace battle from behind throughout to force a fifth set, but the Spartans snatched the fifth-set win to earn a spot in the NAIA’s final site in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Lancers were playing in their first home NAIA tournament match in program history; Grace was making its first appearance in the NAIA National Championships in 23 years (2001) and its second appearance ever.
Grace’s season is not done, however. The Lancers will shift their attention to defending their NCCAA crown. Grace will participate in the 2024 NCCAA National Championships in Branson, Mo., beginning on Dec. 4.
Saturday’s match had several dramatic twists and turns. Three of the sets were not particularly close, and one set went deep into extra points.
Missouri Baptist struck first by claiming the first set. The Spartans’ offense was electric at the onset, amassing 15 kills on a .414 percentage.
Grace did its best to keep pace, but MBU’s offense was too strong in a 25-18 win.
The second set was a memorable one. Grace jumped out to a fast 8-4 lead to force an early timeout.
But MBU rattled off a 5-0 run and a 4-0 run to battle back. The score remained tight until the latter stages when the Spartans edged on top 24-21.
But Grace clawed back with two straight block points. Grace scored four in a row to take a 25-24 lead, but the Spartans stayed alive. MBU staved off two set points and then served for the set twice themselves.
The Lancers turned to their seniors down the stretch, and they delivered. Anna Ballengee had two kills and a share of a block point, and Alisha Voss had a kill as the Lancers won a dramatic 31-29 victory. Ballengee had six kills in the set, and Livia Tate and Jadyn Ross each had four block assists.
The Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center crowd was electric throughout the second set.
Grace’s momentum did not carry into the third set, however. The Lancers’ offense fell flat in the set. Grace mustered just six kills as the Spartans rolled to a 25-13 win.
But Grace reversed the script in the fourth set. The Lancers blitzed the Spartans with a 25-11 victory. MBU committed 10 attack errors in the set, and Tate pounded out five kills on offense.
The Lancers began the fifth set well. Grace led 6-2 thanks to a pair of kills from Voss, and MBU was forced to call timeout.
An ace from Riley Owens and two kills and a block from Tate pushed Grace ahead 12-8. The MOCC crowd was electric as the Spartans had to burn their final timeout.
MBU proved its mettle, however, with a remarkable turnaround. The Spartans rattled off seven straight points to win the match 15-12.
Voss led Grace’s offense with 13 kills, adding a solo block and six block assists. Tate amassed nine kills and six block assists while hitting at a .474 percentage.
Sahara Bee had 7 kills, 3 block assists and 3 digs, Ross notched seven kills with four block assists, and Ballengee finished with eight kills.
Liz Schmidt produced 22 digs, McKenzie Stakely had 12 kills, Riley Owens posted 20 assists with 14 digs, and Morgan Syoen notched 19 assists with two aces.