Grace’s Alexa Hill poses with coach Katie Van Hofwegen after Hill was named the Susan R. Hellings Award winner at the NCCAA volleyball banquet Wednesday. (Photo provided)

GRACE MEN’S SOCCER 2, OTTAWA 0

Grace’s men’s soccer team moved one step closer in its pursuit of a national championship on Wednesday.

The Lancers beat Ottawa (Ariz.) 2-0 to secure a spot in the NCCAA semifinals; Grace won the group after Wednesday’s victory and now sit just two games from a championship.

Grace will face a familiar foe on Friday in the semifinals. The Lancers will square off with Bethel at 7:30 p.m. for a right to play in the national championship. Grace beat Bethel 2-0 on Oct. 3 in the regular season in Winona Lake.

Marcelo Talamas and Damon Binkley netted for the Lancers (15-3-4). Ulisses Miranda was also a key figure, recording an assist on each goal.

Grace dominated the match, owning a 20-3 advantage in shots. The Spirit (11-7-1) did not take a shot attempt for the final 47 minutes of the match.

It did not take the Lancers long to get on the scoreboard. Breno Oliveira made a perfectly weighted pass into the box to Cody Boerema, forcing Ottawa’s goalkeeper to charge out. The ball fell to Miranda who alertly sidestepped the goalkeeper and passed to an open Talamas for a simple finish at the 13:19 mark.

Grace continued to assault Ottawa’s goal, taking 14 shots with four corner kicks in the first 45 minutes.

The pressure paid off as the Spirit picked up a red card late in the first half. Ottawa was forced to play with 10 men for the last 54:28 of regulation.

Ottawa managed to remain only a goal behind for most of the second half. But the Lancers calmly dictated the play with its man-advantage.

Grace eventually found its insurance goal in the 84th minute. Oliveira started play with a free kick pass at the top of the penalty box. Miranda tried a hard, low shot to the near post, and Binkley alertly redirected it into the back of the net.

Ottawa had zero shot attempts or corner kicks in response throughout the second half, allowing Grace to secure its spot in the semifinals.

Kurt Hamlin did not need to make a save in 90 minutes for the shutout as Grace’s goalkeeper.

GRACE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 96, SPRING ARBOR 65

Brooke Sugg enjoyed one of the finest scoring performances in the history of the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on Wednesday.

Sugg exploded for 40 points in a 96-65 victory for Grace’s women’s basketball team against Spring Arbor.

Sugg set a scoring record for Grace’s MOCC, becoming the first women’s basketball player to score at least 40 points in the arena.

She is the only Crossroads League player to score 40 points so far this season. Grace’s Vironnica Drake is the next closest in the league with her 31-point outburst against Holy Cross on Nov. 10.

The Lady Lancers (6-5, 1-1 Crossroads League) made Spring Arbor uncomfortable throughout the evening. The Cougars (3-7, 1-1 CL) were forced into 28 turnovers thanks to 19 steals by Grace.

SAU found itself in an early hole, struggling to deal with Grace’s attack in the first quarter. The Lady Lancers started the game with 18 unanswered points. Sugg scored 10 points during Grace’s 18-0 start.

The Cougars managed to pull closer but still trailed 23-14 after one quarter.

On Grace’s first possession of the second quarter, the Lady Lancers re-established a double-digit lead after a made shot by Drake. SAU never sniffed the lead again.

Grace led 40-18 midway into the second quarter and owned a 16-point edge at halftime. Sugg netted 19 points over the first two quarters.

The third quarter saw SAU give Grace its best shot. The Cougars scored 24 points in the frame, but Grace still outdid SAU with 26 points.

Grace coasted in the fourth quarter en route to the final 31-point margin of victory.

Sugg connected on 15-of-23 from the floor, 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 from the foul line. She added 4 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 32 minutes.

Drake scored 12 points with eight boards, and Kaylie Warble added 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Kyannah Stull tallied 10 points, 3 steals and 3 rebounds, Kamryn Hostetler had seven assists and four points, and Pam Miller added 6 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.

Olivia Pearson scored five points, Lexi Minix notched three steals, and Brooke Treadway hauled in five boards in five minutes.

Grace shot 50 percent overall from the field compared to 41 percent for SAU; Grace also outrebounded the Cougars by 12.

The Lady Lancers remain at home for a must-see game on Saturday. Grace hosts rival Bethel at 1 p.m. at the MOCC as part of a doubleheader with the men. The men’s game will start at 3 p.m.

HILL NAMED HELLINGS AWARD WINNER

At the NCCAA National Volleyball Championship Banquet, Grace junior Alexa Hill was named the 2018 Susan R. Hellings Award winner.

The Hellings Award is the highest individual honor handed out to volleyball student-athletes by the NCCAA, recognizing one individual each year for outstanding Christian character, athletic and academic achievement and community service.

Hill is the fifth Lady Lancer to win the award, following Hannah Clemmons (2014), Rachel Bult (2011), Kate Millen (2000) and Marci Norris (1994).

Hill has been a driving force behind Grace’s success for the past two years. Her gracious and humble nature serves as a perfect example for what it means to be a Christian student-athlete.

Because of this, she is considered “one of the best teammates” that head coach Katie Van Hofwegen has ever coached. Hill’s unmatched work ethic and positive attitude allow her to be a pillar for her team, according to Van Hofwegen.

The Huntington, Ind., native has received many athletic honors in her career. As a sophomore, she earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, NCCAA First Team All-American and also NCCAA/AVCA All-American.

She currently ranks No. 6 in the NAIA in assists and eclipsed both 2,000 and 3,000 career assists this year. As of Wednesday, she has 3,029 career assists, which is 40 assists away from third place in program history.

Hill has helped lead the Lady Lancers to a first round win in the Crossroads League Tournament in each of the past two seasons as well as a berth at NCCAA Nationals in 2017 and 2018.

The pursuit of excellence goes far beyond the court for Hill. She holds a 3.98 GPA in elementary education. She works in the education department as an assistant and has served in leadership roles on mission trips.

Hill has been named to the Dean’s List twice and CoSIDA Academic All-District twice. Van Hofwegen considers Hill to be “a leader on the volleyball court, a great student in the

classroom, a servant in the community and well-respected by her peers and professors.”