Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - It wasn't supposed to be like this.
The Bethel College volleyball team entered Tuesday's Mid-Central Conference opener with the Grace College Lancers ranked No. 4 in Region VIII of the NAIA. The Lancers weren't even in the top 10.
Grace had finally reached the .500 mark, while Bethel had been mowing down opponents.
But Tuesday, the Lancers (8-7) looked dominant in sweeping Bethel (8-4) 15-13, 15-5, 15-11.
"This was a huge win," Grace coach Candace Moats said. "One of our team goals is to win our conference. We had to do this to make a mark and move forward."
Bethel is one of the conference favorites, along with Taylor.
However, the Pilots were ineffective against the Lancer power game.
"We were hitting the ball well," Moats said. "It was encouraging for us to stick to the plan and watch it work."
The Lancers had five players with at least 10 kills, led by sophomore hitter Jamie Gill. Gill, a graduate of NorthWood High School, had 20 kills and a kill percentage of 59.4. Kate Millen followed with 13 kills. Tricia Doyle had 11, and Mandy Ringhand and Dawn Harper each had 10.
"Bethel never really got in sync," Moats said. "We kept them running all night."
That started from the beginning as the Lancers jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first game. The Pilots battled back though and looked to be in control with a 13-10 lead.
However, the Lancers scored the final five points of the game to go on top of Bethel.
In the second game, Grace went ahead 11-2 and cruised to a 15-5 lead.
But the Pilots weren't about to go down that quickly in the third game, and coach Moats knew it would be difficult.
Sure enough, neither team led by more than three points until the Lancers made a late run.
The Pilots led 11-10, but Grace came back with two consecutive points before a Kelli Irish ace and Gill's final kill of the match to give the Lancers a 14-11 lead. After a Bethel timeout, the Lancers closed out the match with a 15-11 win.
"The last four or five games, we've really stayed focused," Moats said.
That focus has translated into a 4-1 record over the past five games and improved play overall.
Grace (8-7, 1-0 MCC) will compete at the Wheaton Invitational Friday and Saturday.
GRACE DEF. BETHEL 15-13, 15-5, 15-11
Grace kills - Jamie Gill 20, Kate Millen 13, Tricia Doyle 11, Mandy Ringhand 10, Dawn Harper 10
Grace assists - Kaylyn Lorenzen 57
Grace blocks - Millen 10, Gill 4, Lorenzen 3, Harper 3
Grace digs - Ringhand 16, Doyle 11, Kelli Irish 10
Grace aces - Ringhand 1, Doyle 1, Gill 1, Irish 1
