WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's volleyball team came up short in a Top-15 showdown with Taylor on Saturday.
The No. 13 Lancers (23-4, 11-2 Crossroads League) lost in three sets against No. 12 Taylor (23-5, 11-2 CL). The loss ends an eight-game winning streak for the Lancers.
The teams were even statistically. Grace had one more kill than Taylor, two more digs and three more blocks. But the Trojans hit at a better percentage to outdistance Grace.
In the first set, Levyn Snow, Molly Hofmann and Anna Elkin hit consecutive kills to hand Grace an early 6-4 advantage.
The teams traded small runs, but Grace forced Taylor to use both timeouts as the Lancers led 22-20.
Out of the timeout, the Trojans scored three points in a row to regain the lead. But a block from Abby Leffring and Savannah Clawson tied the score.
Taylor survived one set point and then rolled off three points in a row to win the opener 26-24.
Grace had 15 kills in the first set, but 10 attack errors hampered the Lancers.
In the second set, Grace rattled off five straight points, aided by kills from Callie Jo Celichowski and Hofmann. An ace from Elkin produced a TU timeout, and Grace built a 14-10 advantage.
Shortly afterwards, Clawson earned three kills in quick succession, and Grace held a four-point edge at 19-15.
The Trojans steadily came back, but Grace still led 23-21 in the latter stages after a kill from Hofmann.
Taylor surged late, however, with two aces and four straight points; TU snuck away with the second set 25-23.
Grace cleaned up its attack errors in the second set, hitting 16 kills on just four errors. But Grace struggled to slow down the Trojans as Taylor hit at a .375 percentage.
Taylor parlayed its momentum into a commanding start in the third set. The Trojans raced ahead 14-6.
Grace faced a 20-10 deficit and ran through both timeouts. However, the Lancers still had one last push.
A 7-2 spurt gave Grace hope as the Lancers trailed by five at 22-17.
A timeout from TU did little to slow Grace as the Lancers scored four more in a row. Taylor had to call its final timeout as the Lancers incredibly rallied to within two at 23-21.
But the Trojans shut the door with a kill and an ace, securing the match with a 25-21 victory.
Reagan Owens was a defensive force, producing 30 digs as well as 23 service receptions.
Hofmann led Grace's attackers with 11 kills on a .346 percentage. Leffring notched eight kills with two block assists, and Clawson had seven kills and two block assists.
Celichowski recorded six kills and five block assists, and Elkin added 6 kills, 5 digs and 2 aces.
Carsyn Witt passed out 23 assists with six digs, and Reese McCutchan added 16 assists.
The Lancers will remain at home on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. battle with Marian.
