WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's volleyball team nearly pulled off a reverse sweep on Wednesday night before losing 3-2 to Marian.
The No. 15 Lancers, who reverse swept the Knights in Indianapolis earlier in the regular season, were within grasp of repeating that effort. But the Knights made enough plays late to hold off the Lancers (23-5, 11-3 Crossroads League).
Grace outperformed the Knights (17-12, 7-7 CL) in most statistical categories, including kills (66-63), digs (89-81), blocks (7-5) and attack percentage (.242 to .196).
The opening set was fiercely contested. The score was tied 11 times as neither side could create a sizable advantage.
Marian made a critical run after calling timeout. They turned a 20-18 deficit into a 24-21 lead, producing a timeout from Grace. Savannah Clawson and Molly Hofmann produced back-to-back kills to stave off set points, but Marian ended the set with a kill to win 25-23.
Hofmann impressed with seven kills in the opening set. Grace hit .351 in the first set, but Marian owned 17 kills.
In the second set, Grace amassed 16 kills, but the Lancers struggled to overcome a sluggish start.
Marian won seven of the first eight points in the set to take a commanding lead. The Lancers responded calmly, steadily chipping away at MU's cushion.
Hofmann continued to impress, tallying six more kills in the second set to power a comeback. She had two quick kills midway into the set, which was followed by an ace from Anna Elkin, to tie the score at 17-17.
A pair of kills from Hofmann pushed Grace ahead 20-19. The teams continued to exchange points with Abby Leffring collecting two kills.
But Marian won three of the final four rallies, claiming the second set 25-23 to put Grace into a daunting hole.
Grace's defense locked up the Knights in set three. Marian hit at a .087 percentage.
The Lancers built a quick 6-3 lead and never looked back. Grace eventually led by 10 at 18-8, holding on for a comfortable 25-18 win.
In the fourth set, Grace's attack was nearly perfect. The Lancers had 18 kills on just one error, and needed every single kill to secure the win.
The teams remained deadlocked for most of the set. The Knights scored three points in a row to pull in front 19-18, but Anna Elkin ended the spurt with a kill.
MU scored two more in a row to lead 22-20, but Grace responded with a flurry. Hofmann, Carsyn Witt and Leffring tallied kills on consecutive rallies, forcing the Knights to burn both timeouts.
Leffring added another kill shortly afterwards, and Emily Uhlmann ended the set 25-23 with a service ace, sending the match to a climactic fifth set.
In the tiebreaker, the Knights shook off the disappointment to grab four of the first five points. Grace managed to recover swiftly, tying the score at 6s.
The Knights then used a 5-1 run to open up an 11-7 lead, but Grace again mounted a response. Elkin had a kill and a block point, helping the Lancers tie the score 12-12.
But three attack errors down the stretch from Grace allowed Marian to sneak away with a 15-13 win. All three of the Knights' victories were by two points.
Hofmann amassed 17 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, adding four block assists as well. Leffring had 12 kills with four block assists, and Savannah Clawson added 11 kills.
Elkin tallied 11 kills, and Levyn Snow had seven kills.
Reagan Owens led all players with 29 digs, Olivia Martinez had 14 digs, and Callie Jo Celichowski added six kills with three block assists.
The Lancers end the week with a match at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Saturday. Grace returns home on Oct. 28 for a battle with Bethel.
