WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's volleyball team had a strong start to the Crossroads League season, sweeping Goshen 3-0 on Wednesday.

The Lady Lancers (6-6, 1-0 CL) used balance scoring and stout defense to dispatch of the Maple Leafs in three sets.

Cassadi Colbert led all players with 12 kills, and Katie Swanson produced 10 kills. Grace had 46 kills as a team on a .219 percentage, while Goshen had 27 kills on a .074 rate.

Grace jumped out to an early 10-4 lead in front of a rowdy crowd at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. Livia Tate and Sahara Bee each had a block and a kill in the early moments.

After a timeout, the Maple Leafs climbed within three. But Grace's offense continued to roll, pulling away for a nine-point win.

Tate and Colbert had four first-half kills, including three late kills by Colbert to secure the set win.

Grace started strong again in the second set, winning five of the first six points. The Maple Leafs responded well, however, rattling off nine unanswered points to charge ahead 20-16.

Grace won four straight in response, but the Maple Leafs still led late.

Swanson stepped up to provide back-to-back kills, preventing Goshen from winning the set. The Maple Leafs scored again, however, and served again for the set at 25-24.

It was Colbert's turn to play the hero at that point. The junior produced kills on two straight rallies to stun the Maple Leafs and put a charge into the electric atmosphere. A Maple Leaf attack error then ended the set in Grace's favor at 27-25.

Colbert had six more kills in the second set, and Swanson added four.

The teams exchanged small runs to begin the third set. A 6-0 spurt by Goshen did not faze the Lady Lancers. Grace used a 9-3 run to charge ahead for good.

The Maple Leafs had no answer and fell 25-20 as Grace completed the sweep.

The middle hitters were effective for Grace. Tate finished with seven kills on nine attempts for a .778 percentage, adding a solo block and three block assists; Alisha Leffring had seven kills on a .500 percentage while adding three block assists.

Morgan Syoen produced 19 assists, 9 digs and 3 aces, and Riley Owens had 13 assists, 7 digs and 3 aces.

Grace Erwin amassed a match-best 18 digs, Jadyn Ross tallied 12 digs, and Liz Schmidt had 11 digs.

The Lady Lancers are off until next week where they will have a three-game road trip at Bethel, Taylor and St. Francis.