Grace’s momentum builds with win over Goshen
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s volleyball team picked up its third straight win with a 3-1 victory over Goshen on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers (10-5, 5-2 Crossroads League) moved into a tie for third place in the league standings, a game out of second.
Sierra Smith and Caylie Teel led Grace’s attack with 16 kills apiece, and Alexa Hill had a double-double of 48 assists and 10 digs.
Grace started the match sharply, scoring the first eight points of the contest. Smith had three kills in that initial surge.
The Maple Leafs (7-11, 0-7 CL) showed life, however, and slowly rallied. Goshen eventually cut Grace’s lead down to one at 20-19, using a 5-0 spurt to force a timeout call from Grace.
In the closing stretch, timely kills from Kari Feddema, Savannah Hart and Marta Bleed gave Grace the cushion it needed in a 25-21 win.
The second set was similar. The Lady Lancers began the game with an 8-3 lead, but Goshen quickly rallied. Goshen tied the score at 15-15, setting up a nervy finish.
The Maple Leafs pulled ahead 24-23 and were serving for the set, but a clutch kill from Hart kept Grace alive. The Lady Lancers survived two more set points, using a kill from Hart and Smith, but Goshen made good on its fourth set point to win 28-26.
Grace’s revenge was swift in the third set. The Lady Lancers pounded Goshen with a 25-12 win, racking up 16 kills on just one error.
The fourth set stayed true to form. Grace built up an early cushion (7-3), but Goshen clawed back (20-18). The Lady Lancers ended the match by winning four of the final six rallies. Tori Bontrager, Feddema and Teel produced kills, and Gina Novotny put the exclamation mark on the match with an ace on the last play.
The Lady Lancers hit the road this weekend, playing at Bethel on Friday and at Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday.
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