FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The nine-match winning streak for Grace's volleyball team finally was snapped on Saturday.
The Lancers lost a pair of hard-fought matches against Cornerstone and Indiana Tech to wrap up a nonconference tournament in Fort Wayne.
Against Cornerstone, the Lancers' offense sizzled in the first three sets. Grace racked up 16 kills in the opening set during a six-point win.
The Golden Eagles responded with a six-point win of their own in the second set to even the match.
The third set saw Grace charge ahead 17-9. CU made Grace sweat with a rally, pulling to within one at 20-19.
But the Lancers secured the 25-23 win after three late kills from Anna Elkin.
Cornerstone forced a fifth set, however, executing down the stretch to win 25-19 in the fourth.
Grace's offense struggled to get on track in the fifth set as the Lancers suffered the 3-2 defeat in the match.
Anna Ballengee (18 kills) and Elkin (15 kills) led Grace's attack, and Jadyn Ross had eight kills.
Riley Owens (23 assists, 11 digs) and Morgan Syoen (20 assists, 12 digs) posted double-doubles, and McKenzie Stakely (15 digs) and Olivia Martinez (13 digs) highlights Grace's back row.
The Lancers began the final match of the weekend well against Indiana Tech.
Grace routed the Warriors in the first set, winning 25-16 with Syoen acing on the final point.
The Warriors echoed Grace's effort and also won by nine in the second set.
The third set was a nailbiter. The Warriors erased a late lead with six unanswered points. The teams traded points over the final few rallies, but Indiana Tech's lead was enough as they held on to win 25-23.
The Warriors' momentum carried into the fourth set. They scored the first four points of the set.
Grace soon answered with a 7-1 run, but the Warriors countered with a 6-0 spurt to regain control.
Grace tried to erase the deficit late with a pair of kills and a block from Livia Tate, but the Warriors secured the victory at 25-22.
Brea Harris tied for the team lead with nine kills, hitting at a .261 percentage. Alisha Voss had 9 kills, 1 solo block and 2 block assists.
Elkin collected eight kills with seven digs, Tate had five kills with four block assists, Stakely recorded 16 digs, and Syoen posted 14 assists, 12 digs and 2 aces.
The Lancers will be home twice next week. Grace will host the defending NAIA champions No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Goshen on Saturday at 1 p.m.
