WINONA LAKE - After a season flooded with success and acomplishments in 1995, this year's version of the Grace College volleyball team is hungry for more as it anticipates a shot at the elusive NAIA National Tournament.

The 1995 season saw the Lancers finish with a 44-5 record and a NCCAA National Championship banner, but a loss to Taylor in the NAIA regionals brought the storybook season to an abrupt end.

This year, the Lancers hope to go one step further.

With the nucleus of seasoned veterans including All-Americans Rebecca Wahlstrom and Melissa Rants and NCCAA Coach of the Year Candace Moats, the Lancers anticipate improvement over last year.

"The ladies are hungry for an opportunity to contend at NAIA Nationals after falling just short last year," Moats, in her second season at the Lancers' helm, said. "But each match must become a stepping stone. It will be critical for us to stay focused on each match and not look ahead to postseason play."

But first, the Lancers must find a way to get past Taylor University. After beating Taylor twice earlier in the season, including at the NCCAA District Tournament, the Trojans became the Lancers' nemeiss, handing Grace three of the team's five losses in 1995.

"It was not psychological," Moats said. "They just simply beat us. They read us, and we lost confidence in our block. We must execute properly and make the necessary adjustments this year."

An outstanding offensive player, Wahlstrom wasted no time in stamping her mark in the Lancers' history books. A junior transfer last season, Wahlstrom led the Lancers and the Mid Central Conference in hitting at .409 and averaged five kills a game.

She earned NAIA first team All-American honors and was named Player of the Year in the MCC.

"Becca is the anchor of our offense," Moats said. "Her confidence in her own ability and the team's confidence in her enhances the team's play."

Rants returns this year for her third season of setting for the Lancers. As a freshman, Rants set a school record of 1,924 assists and beat that total last year at 1,927. She finished first in the NCCAA and third in the NAIA in assists per game and earned NAIA All-American honorable mention honors.

"Melissa is a competitor," Moats said. "She recognizes what level she needs to bring the offense to in order to continually make us contenders."

Also back for the Lancers will be senior Stacey Jackson, who recorded 546 digs and had a kill percentage of .367; and Megan Lash, who had 224 kills before an ankle injury in the NCCAA Districts cut her season short; Stacy Arnold, Bridget Byers, and Molly Maidment.

Newcomers include Dee Beachy, Crista Langerud, Kelly Millbrandt and Linnea Vasquez.

Grace tips its season off tonight by hosting Tri-State University at Lancer Gym at 7 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]