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DEARBORN, Mich. - In an impressive first day of the 2013 season, Grace's volleyball team went 2-0 at the Michigan-Dearborn Tournament on Friday.
The Lady Lancers swept Lourdes in their season opener before coming from behind to win a thrilling five-set match against St. Catharine.
Dana Johnston and freshman Megan Johnson paced Grace's offense in their sweep of Lourdes. Johnston had a match-high 11 kills on a .556 percentage to go along with 4 block assists, 2 service aces and 4 digs, and Johnson tallied eight kills on 16 attempts in her first collegiate competition.
Grace's only challenge against Lourdes came in the second set. The Grey Wolves were serving for the set at 24-23, but a kill from Johnson spurred the Lady Lancers on to win six of the final nine points.
Junior transfer Ellie Harp handed out 30 assists as the team's starting setter, and Calah Kruse recorded six kills and a team-best 11 digs.
Grace was in for a much stiffer challenge in their second match against St. Catharine. The Patriots claimed an early 2-1 set advantage with wins in the first and third sets. The Lady Lancers faced a late 18-12 deficit in the second set before rallying to win 29-27.
With their backs to the wall, Grace pulled out a dominant 25-12 win in the fourth set by pounding out 14 kills on just three errors.
The Patriots were on the verge of taking the match in the decisive fifth set when they led 14-12, but Grace quickly changed their fortunes by claiming five of the final six points of the match to win 17-15. Grace ended the match on a kill from Kruse and a block point from Kruse and Alix Underwood.
Harp set the tone for a vibrant Grace attack with 55 assists, 7 kills and 2 service aces. Hannah Clemmons set a career mark with 25 digs, and Johnston finished with 16 kills.
Megan Johnson recorded 16 kills to tie for match honors, and Kruse notched the only double-double of the match with 14 kills and 16 digs.
Grace will continue action at the Michigan-Dearborn Tournament on Saturday morning against Lawrence Tech at 9 a.m. and IU-South Bend at 11 a.m.
