SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University volleyball team fell in four sets (18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 16-25) to Grace College in Crossroads League action on Friday night.
With the win, the Lancers, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, improved to 12-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference – one of just three teams who remain unbeaten. The loss dropped the Cougars to 1-11 with an 0-3 mark in league play.
Grace began the night on an 8-4 run, but the Cougars fought back to narrow the deficit to one at 10-9 following a kill by sophomore Alexis Long. The Lancers would slowly pull away, however, opening a 19-13 on their way to taking the first set 25-18.
The Cougars would respond in the second frame, utilizing a strong start to jump out to a 10-6 lead. With the score tied 6-6, freshman Olivia Landis started a 4-0 SAU run that classmate Leah Rose punctuated with back-to-back aces. Grace managed to get within two, 16-14, but five unanswered points helped the Cougars level the match at one set apiece.
Spring Arbor continued to battle, giving the Lancers all they could handle in the third set. The teams went back and forth early trading the lead several times until freshman Courtney Kyser slammed down a kill to give SAU a 14-13 advantage. Grace fired back though, scoring three consecutive points and would not trail again in the set, eventually escaping with a 25-20 win.
Facing defeat, the Cougars grabbed an early 5-4 lead in set four. However, with the score tied 11-11 midway through the frame the Lancers would use a 6-1 run to help stave off the hungry Cougars looking for the upset.
Rose narrowly missed a double-double posting 11 kills and nine digs. Sophomore Rebekah Kujat and Long added nine kills apiece. Setters Gabrielle Hilliard and Laura Hardy combined to hand out 35 assists, recording 18 and 17, respectively.
Senior libero Lyndsay Murray picked up a season-high 25 digs to lead the defense while Kyser finished four blocks.
Spring Arbor will wrap up the five-match home stand when they host Huntington University on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.
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