Life Begins Without Rants

WINONA LAKE - Grace College volleyball coach Candace Moats has to find a way to make up for 7,234 lost assists.

That's the amount that setter Melissa Rants took with her when she graduated last year, the second most in the history of NAIA volleyball. Rants was a four-time All-Mid Central Conference player, a leader on Grace's NCCAA National Championship team and a stabilizing influence for Lancer volleyball over her four years at Grace.

"Melissa's leadership and motivation led the team," Moats said. "We are really feeling that right now and not having that experience is going to be pretty obvious."

Moats, however, has seen this day coming. She's prepared for the time when Rants, who led the Lancers to a 25-15 record last year, was no longer at the center of activity on the floor.

"You never count on just one particular person," Moats said. "There are times of mentoring during a season and there is validating players to take the step towards leadership."

With four returning starters and seven new faces, Moats will mesh youth and leadership to fill the hole.

Freshman Hannah Melby, a two-time all-state selection, and sophomore Rachel Anderson will attempt to take Rants' spot on the floor.

Players like Kate Millen, Kelly Irish, DeAnna Beachy and Sarah Calhoun will be asked to take the leadership role.

Millen, just a sophomore, had 650 kills and 335 blocks last year at a time when the Lancers had lost many of their big hitters to graduation. Irish, Beachy and Calhoun all filled holes last year and will attempt to help the youngsters develop into a strong unit. Mandy Ringhand is a sophomore who didn't play last year but should be a surprise, according to Moats.

Other freshmen, like NorthWood graduate Jamie Gill, will play a pivotal role in contributing to the team right away.

"Right now I'm working with freshmen and sophomores," Moats said. "It's going to take some longevity. We have a lot of talent, but we have to get experience."

Indeed, Moats will be without a single senior and with just two juniors on her squad, Beachy and Elicia Defreez. And no, Moats doesn't have Rants.

But she does have the next best thing - talent and a team working toward a common goal of winning like the Lancer teams of the past.

Grace College Volleyball Roster

No. Name Pos. Year Hometown

2 Elicia Defreez OH Jr. Galien, Mich.

3 Hannah Melby S Fr. Ft. Collins, Col.

4 Mandy Ringhand O So. Careywood, Idaho

6 Kelli Irish O So. New Berlin, Wis.

7 Lindsay Jackson OH Fr. Kent, Wash.

8 Kate Millen MH So. Waukesha, Wis.

9 Andria Parker OH Fr. Silver Lake

10 Sarah Calhoun RS So. Warsaw

11 Rachel Anderson S So. Dunkerton, Iowa

12 Dawn Harper M Fr. Canterburg, Ohio

14 Jamie Gill M Fr. Nappanee

15 DeAnna Beachy OH Jr. Arthur, Ill.

Grace College Volleyball Schedule

Date Opponent Time

Sept.

2 at Cornerstone 7 p.m.

4-5 at Cedarville Tournament TBA

11-12 at Dominican University TBA

17 at St. Xavier 7 p.m.

18-19 at College of St. Francis, Ill. TBA

22 INDIANA WESLEYAN 7:30 p.m.

25-26 at Mt. Vernon Nazarene Tournament TBA

29 at Bethel 7:30 p.m.

Oct.

2-3 GRACE CROSSROADS CLASSIC TBA

7 at Taylor 7:30 p.m.

10 TRI-STATE 10 a.m.

13 at Marian 7:30 p.m.

20 HUNTINGTON 7:30 p.m.

23-24 NCCAA DISTRICT TOURNAMENT TBA

28 GOSHEN 7:30 p.m.

31 at Rose-Hulman 2 p.m.

Nov.

3 at St. Francis 7:30 p.m.

5-7 at NCCAA National Tournament (Bethel) TBA

12 MCC First Round TBA

14 MCC Finals TBA

19-21 at NAIA Regional Tournament TBA

Dec.

2-5 at NAIA National Tournament TBA