Pilots Top Grace In VB Semis
MISHAWAKA – The Grace College volleyball team lost a hard-fought match to top-seeded Bethel on Thursday in the semifinals of the 2013 Crossroads League Tournament.
The Lady Lancers (20-16) were unable to hamper Bethel’s attack as the Pilots (25-11) hit .212 as a team.
The opening set was close from the first serve to the final point. Each team traded small leads until Bethel opened up a 23-19 advantage in the closing stages. Grace rallied with four straight points, sparked by a block point and kill by Grace Woolsey, to tie the set. But Bethel took the final two points to win 25-23.
Grace bounced back in the second set and held a 17-12 lead. The Pilots responded with an 8-2 run to go back on top for good. The Lady Lancers held off one set point with a kill by Dana Johnston, but the Pilots went on to win 25-23 for the second time.
The Pilots opened up a 10-3 advantage in the third set as they took the match, 25-17. Grace had seven kills and seven errors in the clinching set.
Calah Kruse had a team-best 12 kills on a .205 percentage to go along with 15 digs. It was her 17th double-double of the season.
Dana Johnston recorded 11 kills, and Hannah Clemmons tallied 16 digs. Kaitlin Kerrigan added eight digs and four kills, and Ellie Harp finished with 24 assists.
The Lady Lancers will await the draw for the NCCAA Regional Tournament and hope to earn a berth to their third-straight NCCAA National Championship in Kissimmee, Fla.