WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The No. 23 ranked Spring Arbor University volleyball team went the distance on the road Saturday but came up just short in a five-set battle against Grace College. The Cougars fell 3-2 inside the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, dropping to 14-2 overall and 2-2 in Crossroads League play.
(23) Spring Arbor 2, (RV) Grace 3
Scores: 25-19, 18-25, 19-25, 27-25, 15-10
Grace opened the match with a 25-19 win in the first set, but the Cougars responded with back-to-back victories, 25-18 and 25-19, to take a 2-1 lead. The Lancers forced a decisive fifth set after edging out a tight fourth frame, 27-25, before clinching the match with a 15-10 win in the final stanza.
Kelsie Lilly delivered a standout two-way performance for Spring Arbor, recording 15 kills and 31 digs.
Julia Mitchell and
Keely Hinzman each tallied 12 kills while also posting six blocks apiece at the net.
Kendall Bollenbacher added 12 kills with 16 digs and
Isabelle Kirkendall chipped in eight kills. Setter
Camy Wedge directed the offense with a career-high 51 assists and contributed 21 digs, while libero
Aliza Munro anchored the back row with a team-high 24 digs.
Spring Arbor will look to bounce back at home on Wednesday, Sept. 17 when it hosts No. 22 Taylor University starting at 7 p.m.
