MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Grace's volleyball team dropped a narrow five-set match at Bethel on Saturday.

In a back-and-forth match, the Pilots secured the win by winning the fifth set in extra points.

No. 16 Grace produced its best blocking match of the season, racking up 15 block points with 30 block assists. But it wasn't enough to extend Grace's four-match winning streak.

The Lancers (19-6, 12-3 Crossroads League) have three matches left in the regular season, beginning with a pivotal home match against No. 15 Mt. Vernon Nazarene. The two teams are deadlocked in the league standings for second place. The match on Wednesday will begin at 7 p.m.

Saturday's match saw Grace slip into an early hole against Bethel. The Pilots scored the first four points of the first set and maintained a small lead for much of the set.

A few timely kills from Leah Henderson helped Grace stay within striking distance, but the Pilots ended the set on a 6-2 spurt to win the opener by three.

The Lancers responded well by claiming the second and third sets.

In the second set, Grace was powered by a 5-0 run to charge ahead. The Pilots pulled within one late in the set, by Alisha Voss had a kill and a block over the final few rallies to enable Grace's 25-21 victory.

The third set had several momentum shifts. Grace struck first with two separate 4-0 runs, eventually building a 20-16 advantage.

But the Pilots rallied furiously with an 8-2 run to pull in front 24-22.

But after a timeout, Grace settled. A kill from Brea Harris was followed by three attack errors from the Pilots as the Lancers grabbed the 26-24 win.

Grace was unable to polish off the Pilots in the fourth set. The Lancers' offense was held to a .077 attacking percentage in the set as Bethel won by six to force a tiebreaker.

The Lancers began the fifth set with the lead thanks to a kill from Henderson and Voss to give Grace a 5-2 advantage.

The Pilots recovered to even the score at 10s. Grace edged in front to lead 14-13, but the Pilots survived with two quick points.

Grace was unable to make winning plays down the stretch, and Bethel clinched the match with a 17-15 victory.

Jadyn Ross led Grace's offense with 13 kills, adding eight digs and three block assists. Harris pounded out 12 kills, 3 block assists and 3 digs.

Voss finished with eight kills and eight block assists, and Henderson (8 kills, 5 block assists) and Sahara Bee (7 kills, 4 block assists) had balanced outings as well.

Liz Schmidt produced 18 digs, McKenzie Stakely tallied 11 digs, and Olivia Martinez dug nine balls.

Riley Owens (29 assists, 8 digs) and Morgan Syoen (20 assists, 7 digs) directed Grace's attack.