Grace Moving On To MCC Final Four
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Even before the Mid-Central Conference tournament match against Marian had even begun, Grace coach Candace Moats knew what was coming.
Moats' No. 3 seed Lancers (37-8) were an overwhelming favorite against No. 6 seed Marian (5-21). Moats knew it, the players knew it, and the fans knew it.
Still, Moats knew it would be a struggle against Marian. And just like Moats had written the script, the Lancers followed her prediction to the letter in a 15-9, 15-12, 15-9 win Thursday in Lancer Gym.
The Lancers kind of just put it in cruise control in anticipation of advancing to the MCC Final Four Saturday at No. 1 seed Bethel College.
"We have to have a challenge," Moats said. "Psychologically, something just changes. On Saturday, we should be a different team."
Grace knew what it was facing in Marian (2-5 MCC), having already won handily earlier in the season in MCC action. But despite having sleep-walked through the rematch, Moats doesn't foresee any ill effects for the weekend.
"I am not worried at all," she said. "We have had these games before. It is hard to get back in there after having crushed them before. It is hard to get pumped up."
Grace seemed to let Marian hang around for a majority of each game, but when it came crunch time, it had what it took to put some distance between them and Marian.
• In game one, it was a 10-4 lead that Marian whittled down to 14-9 before Grace got an ace from Rebecca Wahlstrom to close out the game.
• In game two, Marian led 9-5 before Grace went on an 8-1 run to take a 13-10 lead on a kill by Megan Lash. Marian closed the margin to 13-12 before Grace stepped the pressure up again and got away with the 15-12 win.
nGame three saw Marian take a lead, 8-6, midway through the match. Trailing 9-7, Grace got six straight points on the serve of Lorrie Boger and never looked back in outscoring Marian 7-0 down the stretch.
The Lancers now face their old nemesis, Taylor, in the MCC semifinals Saturday at noon. Taylor ended Grace's conference championship hopes last season and just seems to have the Lancers' number the past few seasons, including a regular season win this year.
"I know we can beat Taylor," Moats said. "Whether or not we will remains to be seen. We have the tools to do it. The last time we were competitive with them. Psychologically we knew that we have struggled with them. Maybe we got overpsyched. This time, it will be a good match. Everybody will have to pick it up for us."
The winner would more than likely get a chance at No. 1 seed Bethel in the championship match later in the day. Bethel is the only MCC team other than Taylor to beat the Lancers (5-2 MCC) this year.
"With this team, it is hard to get a feel for them," Moats said. "But we are a tournament team. I am confident we will pick it up."
Grace has to like its chances in the tournament. The Lancers have the No. 1 attacker in the league (Wahlstrom at 5.39 per game), the top MCC's blocker (Wahlstrom with 320 blocks), the MCC's top setter (Melissa Rants at 11.46 assists per game) and the MCC digs leader (Stacey Jackson 584). [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Even before the Mid-Central Conference tournament match against Marian had even begun, Grace coach Candace Moats knew what was coming.
Moats' No. 3 seed Lancers (37-8) were an overwhelming favorite against No. 6 seed Marian (5-21). Moats knew it, the players knew it, and the fans knew it.
Still, Moats knew it would be a struggle against Marian. And just like Moats had written the script, the Lancers followed her prediction to the letter in a 15-9, 15-12, 15-9 win Thursday in Lancer Gym.
The Lancers kind of just put it in cruise control in anticipation of advancing to the MCC Final Four Saturday at No. 1 seed Bethel College.
"We have to have a challenge," Moats said. "Psychologically, something just changes. On Saturday, we should be a different team."
Grace knew what it was facing in Marian (2-5 MCC), having already won handily earlier in the season in MCC action. But despite having sleep-walked through the rematch, Moats doesn't foresee any ill effects for the weekend.
"I am not worried at all," she said. "We have had these games before. It is hard to get back in there after having crushed them before. It is hard to get pumped up."
Grace seemed to let Marian hang around for a majority of each game, but when it came crunch time, it had what it took to put some distance between them and Marian.
• In game one, it was a 10-4 lead that Marian whittled down to 14-9 before Grace got an ace from Rebecca Wahlstrom to close out the game.
• In game two, Marian led 9-5 before Grace went on an 8-1 run to take a 13-10 lead on a kill by Megan Lash. Marian closed the margin to 13-12 before Grace stepped the pressure up again and got away with the 15-12 win.
nGame three saw Marian take a lead, 8-6, midway through the match. Trailing 9-7, Grace got six straight points on the serve of Lorrie Boger and never looked back in outscoring Marian 7-0 down the stretch.
The Lancers now face their old nemesis, Taylor, in the MCC semifinals Saturday at noon. Taylor ended Grace's conference championship hopes last season and just seems to have the Lancers' number the past few seasons, including a regular season win this year.
"I know we can beat Taylor," Moats said. "Whether or not we will remains to be seen. We have the tools to do it. The last time we were competitive with them. Psychologically we knew that we have struggled with them. Maybe we got overpsyched. This time, it will be a good match. Everybody will have to pick it up for us."
The winner would more than likely get a chance at No. 1 seed Bethel in the championship match later in the day. Bethel is the only MCC team other than Taylor to beat the Lancers (5-2 MCC) this year.
"With this team, it is hard to get a feel for them," Moats said. "But we are a tournament team. I am confident we will pick it up."
Grace has to like its chances in the tournament. The Lancers have the No. 1 attacker in the league (Wahlstrom at 5.39 per game), the top MCC's blocker (Wahlstrom with 320 blocks), the MCC's top setter (Melissa Rants at 11.46 assists per game) and the MCC digs leader (Stacey Jackson 584). [[In-content Ad]]