MANHATTAN, Kan. – Manhattan Christian College (24-6), ranked number five in the current National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) national coaches’ poll, defeated number eight-ranked Grace University (Neb.), 3-0, in an important NCCAA Central Region women’s volleyball rivalry match, Saturday, Oct. 19, in City Auditorium in Manhattan, Kansas. The Crusaders recorded set scores of 25-13, 25-23, 25-13, in the win. Grace (11-16) played without the services of NCCAA Division II All-America second teamer Chelsea Entz (Ansley, Neb./Ansley Public School), who was participating in the wedding of her former roommate and teammate. NCCAA All-America first team middle hitter Katie Loewen (Mountain Lake, Minn./Mountain Lake Christian H.S.) led the Royals with 12 kills, 2 service aces, 8 digs and 3 solo blocks, and sophomore outside hitter Meghan Ward (Overland Park, Kan./Christ Preparatory Academy), who ranks eighth in the NCCAA Division II Central Region in kill average, added 9 kills and 5 digs. Junior outside hitter Katie Reiss (Louisville, Neb./Home Schooled) contributed 5 kills, 6 digs and one assisted block, and freshman setter Amber Carlson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast H.S.), who ranks second in the Central Region in assists average, totaled 23 set assists, one service ace, 9 digs and one assisted block. Senior libero Channa Hess (York, Neb./McCool Junction Public School), an NCCAA Division II All-Central Region selection last season, led the team defensively with 19 digs, and ranks fifth in the Central Region in digging average. Sophomore right-side hitter Taylor Shaefer (Longmont, Colo./Longmont Christian H.S.) finished with 2 kills and 6 digs. Loewen and Entz rank 12th and 25th respectively in the NCCAA and first and fourth in the NCCAA Division II Central Region in kill percentage and first and second in blocking average in the region. Entz and Loewen rank fourth and sixth respectively in the Central Region in attack percentage. Junior outside hitter Kylie Rupe led MCC with 13 kills and 17 digs, and freshman outside hitter Kenzie Denver contributed 10 kills, 5 service aces, one solo block and one assisted block. Junior setter Paige Mortensen set 32 assists and led MCC defensively with 16 digs. Grace stayed close to MCC in the early stages of set one, tying the score at 9-9, and trailed just 14-10 before MCC scored nine consecutive points and led 23-10 enroute to a 25-13 set win. Grace led set two by as many as five points, 13-8, and was ahead, 19-15, when the Crusaders rallied to tie the set, 19-19. The teams were tied again at 20-20 before MCC went ahead 22-20 and 23-21. Grace rallied again and saved a set point and cut the lead to 24-23 before MCC scored set point, 25-23. Manhattan Christian went from a 5-5 tie in set three to a 15-7 lead and then outscored Grace, 10-6, the rest of the way. MCC led by 11 points twice in the later stages of the set. UPCOMING MATCH: Grace plays twice on the road next week -- at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m., and at Central Christian College in McPherson, Kansas, Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. The Royals also travel the following week to the NCCAA Division II Central Regionals, hosted by Manhattan Christian College, Nov. 1-2. SCHEDULE ADDITION: Coach Courtney Moore has added a Thursday, Nov. 7 home regular-season match against York College to the Grace schedule. Grace hosts York in Jim Classen Gymnasium at 7 p.m., for the Royals’ Senior Night, when three Grace seniors, libero Channa Hess, middle hitter Katie Loewen and outside hitter Katie Reiss will be honored prior to the match.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 02:48:22 +0000
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