WINONA LAKE - Grace knew what was coming. It just took a little memory jog to get the Lancers going.

Having faced Indiana Wesleyan three times (Grace won all three) this season, it came as no surprise what the Wildcats were going to throw at them. But Grace still struggled with the Wildcat attack, and fortunately for the Lancers, it didn't last long.

After dropping the first game, Grace came back to capture the next three games and advance in the Mid-Central Conference tournament with the 11-15, 15-6, 15-13, 15-8 win over IWU Thursday at Lancer Gym.

"A fast game for us, it takes a little while to clue into what it takes to stop the quicks," Grace coach Candace Moats said. "Even though we practiced on that, you have to see it. We made the adjustments to try to put the stops on them and serve different spots."

Despite winning three straight games, it never came easy for the Lancers (25-14). Indiana Wesleyan was still able to be annoying at the worst and dangerous at best. Several times during the match, the teams traded side outs that reached double figures before one of the teams would break through. At one point in the third game, the Lancers weren't able to score a single point in 19 straight serves (both teams combined), but fortunately for Grace, the Wildcats scored only once during the stretch.

"We got saved a lot just from their missed serves," Moats said. "We missed a lot, but they missed some critical serves. It could have gotten them the momentum."

The Lancers took an 11-4 lead in that third game, only to watch the Wildcats run off seven straight points to knot the score at 11. Tied at 13, the Lancers got three service points from Molly Maidment and big kills from DeAnna Beachy and Sarah Calhoun to close out the game.

To start game No. 4, there were 12 side outs before Grace got on top with four straight points on the serve of Calhoun. The lead reached 13-4, and the Lancers had game point at 14-6, but it still took four service tries before Kelli Irish's kill gave Grace point No. 15 and the match.

"They are a good team," Moats said of IWU. "They are going to be up and coming."

In the next round of the MCC tourney, Grace now faces another familiar foe, but one that the Lancers have less success against in the Bethel Pilots. Grace has played Bethel twice this season, losing in five games the first time and in four games the second time around.

"We are going to have a big match," Moats said. "I think we played Indiana Wesleyan so many times now it is like 'get that out of the way'.

"We have been working somewhat on Bethel too, anticipating winning here," she said. "Bethel has a lot of guns. They have more players if someone is not playing well, they can put another one in. That is where we are lacking right now. But we played them tough every time we play them. I hope we play strong."

Kate Millen led the Lancers with 20 kills, while Maidment added 12. Melissa Rants added 49 assists.

Moats' young Lancers have certainly been through a lot this season with the amount of injuries. But a third-place or better finish in the conference tourney could give them a bid to the NAIA regional tourney Nov. 20-22.

"If nothing else happens the rest of the year, I am so proud of these girls," Moats said. "We are so young and so inexperienced, and for us to come in this year and do what they have done is incredible."

Grace faces Bethel at Taylor University Saturday at noon. [[In-content Ad]]