MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Grace's volleyball team was unable to upset No. 17 Bethel on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Crossroads League Tournament.

The Lancers (19-11) fell in three sets as Bethel's high-powered attack proved too efficient at home. The Pilots (26-5) had 45 kills in the victory, hitting at a .302 percentage as a team. Grace's offense included 30 kills at a .108 clip.

In the first set, Bethel gained the first separation with a slight 11-7 lead. Grace quickly ate away at that margin and tied the score at 12-12. Jadyn Ross and Cassadi Colbert had a pair of early kills to help the Lancers.

The teams traded small runs over the middle portions of the set, and the Pilots tried to pull away with a 7-1 spurt.

Grace found itself trailing 24-19. But a well-placed timeout gave Grace a chance to respond. The Lancers jolted to life with a kill from Alisha Leffring and a block from Ross and Livia Tate.

Ross and Sahara Bee then connected on two straight kills to bring Grace within one at 24-23.

But the Pilots benefitted from a Grace error on the next play, allowing Bethel to hold on for the 25-23 win.

In the second set, Grace quickly fell behind 9-3. The Lancers still faced a six-point deficit in the latter stages of the set, but a pair of aces from Emma Blackford sparked another late run by Grace.

The Lancers scored four straight and trailed by two at 21-19. But the Pilots recovered, winning four of the next five rallies to claim the set 25-20.

Grace seemed intent on extending the match with a strong start to the third set. The Lancers surged in front 15-12 thanks to a quick 7-1 spurt.

But the Pilots closed the door with a furious 13-2 run to end the match. Grace gave up two aces and had three attack errors down the stretch, and Bethel secured the sweep with an eight-point victory.

Colbert led Grace's offense with seven kills, and Leffring had 6 kills, 1 solo block and 3 block assists.

Ross had six kills and a block assist, Tate had five block assists, and Bee and Swanson each tallied four kills.

Riley Owens finished with 13 assists and five digs, and Morgan Syoen eight assists and six digs.

The Lancers will await word on a national tournament with their eyes set on a bid to the 2023 NCCAA National Championships; the tournament is slated to begin Nov. 29 in Point Lookout, Mo.