WINONA LAKE, Ind. - A marquee match for Grace's volleyball team went Indiana Wesleyan's way on Wednesday night.

The No. 14 Lancers (15-5, 8-2 Crossroads League) fell in three sets to No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan (20-2, 10-0 CL).

The Wildcats' offense was hard to stop as IWU amassed 49 kills on a .264 percentage. 

Grace started the match from behind as IWU gained a quick 6-1 advantage in the opening set. 

The Lancers' attack struggled to keep pace; Grace had seven kills in the first set as IWU won the opener by nine.

The teams battled fiercely in the second set. A 4-0 spurt by Grace tied the score at 13-13, keeping a lively home crowd roaring in support.

The Wildcats tried to pull away with five straight points shortly after Grace's run, but the Lancers continued to fight. Leah Henderson had a block and a kill, and Anna Ballengee also earned a kill as IWU's cushion shrunk to two.

But Grace's offense went quiet over the final rallies, allowing IWU to pull away for a 25-20 win.

The third set had a similar storyline. Grace began the set well with an ace from Riley Owens and two quick kills from Ballengee.

But a 6-0 charge from IWU gave the visitors separation on the scoreboard.

The Lancers' confidence seemed to grow as the match continued, however. Grace used a 5-2 run to trail by just one at 17-16, forcing a timeout from IWU. Henderson had two kills during the run, and Ballengee had a block and a kill.

But Grace was unable to generate a kill for the rest of the set. IWU scored the final seven points of the game, rolling away to secure the sweep.

McKenzie Stakely led all players with 19 digs, and Olivia Martinez had 10 digs and was perfect in 22 serve receptions.

Ballengee had 7 kills, 4 block assists and 3 digs, and Alisha Voss added 5 kills, 1 solo block and 3 block assists.

Henderson was an offensive spark with five kills on a .455 percentage, and Livia Tate added four block assists.

Owens produced 15 assists with four block assists, and Morgan Syoen chipped in 7 assists, 8 digs and 3 kills.

The Lancers will remain home on Saturday, taking on Goshen at 1 p.m.