Grace’s Alexa Hill sets up Kelsey Smith during play Saturday at the Lancer Classic. (Photo by Sam Baker)

WINONA LAKE – Grace volleyball wrapped up its final day of the Lancer Classic with a pair of wins while the men’s and women’s soccer programs were on the road Saturday.

VOLLEYBALL WINS TWO AT LANCER CLASSIC

Grace’s volleyball team wrapped up the 2018 Lancer Classic with a pair of 3-0 victories.

The Lady Lancers (6-2) cruised by St. Ambrose in the morning match before sweeping IU East to end the tournament in impressive fashion.

In the first sweep over St. Ambrose, Grace pulled away midway into the first set and held on for a 25-20 victory. Makayla Bell and Kelsee Zuidema each had four kills in the set.

In the second set, the score stayed close from start to finish. Makaela Lochmueller produced several timely kills late in the game to spark the Lady Lancers, and Zuidema pounded out the set winner down the line to win 27-25.

The third game saw Grace blow open a 12-12 tie thanks to a 7-1 charge. Lochmueller recorded a pair of kills and a solo block to spark the Lady Lancers. Grace coasted to a 25-22 win to secure the sweep.

Zuidema recorded 12 kills and two block assists, and Lochmueller added nine kills on a .500 percentage. Bell added seven kills and four digs, Marta Bleed pounded out nine kills, and Alexa Hill finished with 38 assists and six digs.

In the second match, the Red Wolves struggled to deal with Grace’s defense. IU East racked up 23 attack errors and only hit at a .135 percentage as a team.

The Lady Lancers won 25-20, 25-21 and 25-18 in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

Zuidema’s eight kills and Marta Bleed’s seven kills led a balanced attack for Grace. Caylie Teel had 5 kills, 8 digs and 1 solo block, and Lochmueller added four kills and three block assists.

Hill tallied 27 assists, 6 digs, 3 kills and 2 block assists, and Gina Novotny paced Grace with 12 digs.

The Lady Lancers kick off the Crossroads League season next week, playing at Taylor on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

FLORIDA NATIONAL 4, GRACE MEN’S SOCCER 1

An early defensive lapse cost Grace’s men’s soccer team on Saturday in a 4-1 defeat against Florida National.

The Lancers were playing their second consecutive day after tying No. 9 Lindsey Wilson through 110 minutes of action. Grace’s slow start resulted in its first loss of the season.

Florida National took advantage of the Lancers in the early stages.

The Conquistadors cranked out two shots in the first three minutes. Grace never recovered and surrendered the first goal of the match in the fifth minute.

The Lancers struggled to regain control of the contest and quickly surrendered two more goals in the 11th and 12th minutes.

Florida National went into halftime ahead 3-0 despite only taking three shots on goal. The Lancers recorded five shots and two on goal before halftime, but they were unable to get on the scoresheet.

Grace picked up two corner kicks and a shot in the opening minutes of the second half but to no avail. The Lancers outshot Florida National 7-4 over the final 45 minutes, but Grace was unable to pull closer.

The Conquistadors scored their fourth goal at the 82:25 mark.

Grace managed a consolation goal at the end. Damon Binkley finished off an assist from Kyle Smith in the final minute of play for the final 4-1 scoreline.

“Florida National is a solid team with strong, composed players. We didn’t start well, and the score reflected it. The game evened out after 15 minutes, but by then it was too late,” said Grace head coach Matt Hotchkin. “We will learn from this and move on. Togo Narusawa played a good game, and I also thought that Korry Hamlin and Kyle Smith showed a solid work rate.”

Grace was only outshot 14-12 in the match, and both teams recorded seven corner kicks.

The Lancers return home on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. match against Aquinas. The match will be the second half of a women’s/men’s doubleheader at 1st Source Bank Field.

GRACE WOMEN’S SOCCER 1, GRACELAND 0

The season-opening trip for Grace’s women’s soccer team produced a pair of wins in Iowa.

The Lady Lancers blanked a strong Graceland squad 1-0 on Saturday to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Shelby Fort picked up her second game-winning goal of the season with an early strike.

It did not take long for Grace to take control of the match against Graceland. The Lady Lancers were fouled in their attacking third, and Corinne Villalobos quickly restarted to set up the attack.

Shelby Fort drove toward the top of the penalty box and split two defenders with a pass to Sacia Hanson on the right side. Hanson beat a defender and passed to Jenni Phillips directly in front of the goal.

Phillips held off her defender and alertly teed up a pass to Fort, who blasted in her second goal of the season at the 3:03 mark.

The rest of the match was relatively even. The Yellow Jackets held a slight 12-10 edge in shot attempts over the course of the game.

Grace had four shots on goal compared to five for Graceland; Graceland also owned a 10-3 advantage in fouls.

“This was a good match for the Grace College women’s soccer program today. Graceland was solid all over, and it was a battle. Our crew has so much respect for their game,” said Grace head coach Michael Voss. “Ultimately we settled in and took control in key sections, and we rode the lead by being dangerous. I’m proud of our women today. They came of age.”

Corinne Villalobos led Grace with three shots, two on goal, and Liz Van Wormer took two shots.

Bethany Blackwood picked up another shutout in goal for Grace, her second straight to start her freshman season. She made five saves in 90 minutes.

The Lady Lancers are back home on Wednesday, hosting Michigan-Dearborn at 6 p.m. The men’s soccer team will follow the women for a doubleheader at 1st Source Bank Field.