WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's volleyball team produced a marquee victory on Friday, sinking Marian 3-2 at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

The Lancers' offense sizzled at home, amassing a season-high 61 kills on a .204 percentage.

The Knights (16-8, 10-4 Crossroads League) were held to a .113 percentage thanks to an impressive blocking performance from Grace; the Lancers finished with 10 block points, eight of which had Alisha Leffring on the play. The Knights are currently receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

To begin the match, the teams could not be separated across the first nine points. The Lancers grabbed the first cushion thanks to strong serving from McKenzie Stakely. Grace led 15-10, resulting in the first timeout from the Knights.

Grace's offense continued to flex its muscles, pulling ahead 20-15. Marian's second timeout still could not slow the Lancers' momentum as Grace coasted to a 25-16 victory.

Katie Swanson needed just six swings to produce five kills, and Leffring had four kills of her own. Grace racked up 15 kills in the set on a .294 percentage.

The Knights earned the first separation during the second set at 10-7. Grace stayed within range and eventually tied the score at 17-17 on a block from Sahara Bee. 

Leffring put Grace in front on the next play with an alert attack to the back row, but Marian quickly countered with two straight points.

Marian's defense was stout across the final rallies, refusing to allow Grace to pull ahead. The Knights went on to even the match with a 25-20 win.

Both teams had 11 kills in the second set, but Grace had 10 attack errors to hurt its cause.

In the third set, Grace began with confidence and seized a 9-4 lead. The Lancers refused to relinquish their lead and pulled in front 17-11 to force a Marian timeout.

Marian had no answer for Grace's offense as the Lancers rolled to a nine-point victory.

Grace had 17 kills in the set, propelled by six kills from Swanson and four from Bee. The Lancers also cleaned up their attack with just three attack errors (.452 attack percentage).

The Knights owned a slight edge to start the fourth set. Grace called a pair of timeouts and managed a daring late rally.

Grace trailed 21-15 in the latter stages but surged to within one at 23-22.

But the Knights won a long rally on the next point and held on for the 25-22 win. Grace had just nine kills in the game compared to 14 for the Knights.

The fifth set could not have started any better for Grace. The Lancers scored the first seven points, sparked by an ace from Stakely and kills from Jadyn Ross and Bee. 

Marian was forced to call a timeout with a 6-0 deficit, but it did little to slow Grace.

The Lancers found timely kills each time the Knights tried to string together points. The match ended with Grace kills on the final three plays, including two in a row from Bee, as Grace won 15-7 to secure the upset.

Swanson led all players with 16 kills on just three errors for a percentage of .433; she also had three block assists and three digs.

Leffring also excelled with 12 kills, 8 block assists and 4 digs, and Bee racked up 12 kills as well.

Ross tallied 7 kills, 13 digs and 4 block assists, and Cassadi Colbert chipped in five kills.

Morgan Syoen had 21 assists, 12 digs and 2 kills, and Riley Owens had 23 assists, 10 digs and 3 kills.

Liz Schmidt produced a match-high 19 digs, Stakely had 11 kills and two aces, and Emma Blackford also aced twice.

The Lancers will be back home on Saturday with a 3 p.m. match against Spring Arbor. Saturday will also be Senior Day to honor Grace's graduates Katie Swanson and Kate Sperry.