OMAHA, Neb. – Grace University improved its record to 6-9 with a 3-1 intercollegiate women’s volleyball victory over Union College (3-5), from Lincoln, Nebraska, Thursday, Sept. 19, in Jim Classen Gymnasium on the Grace campus in Omaha. The Royals won the first two sets, 25-15, 25-21, lost set three, 25-22, and decided the match with a 25-22 win in set four. “Our girls worked hard to take care of the ball on our side,” commented Grace University head coach Courtney Moore. “It was a strong victory to come back and take the fourth and final set. I am very proud of the Royals team tonight.” Senior middle hitter Katie Loewen (Mountain Lake, Minn./Mountain Lake Christian H.S.), a returning NCCAA Division II All-America first team and All-Central Region first team selection, finished with 18 kills, 19 digs, 2 solo blocks and one assisted block and one service ace, and junior outside hitter Chelsea Entz (Ansley, Neb./Ansley Public School), a returning NCCAA Division II All-America second team and All-Central Region first team selection, totaled 12 kills, 12 digs, and 2 solo blocks and one assisted block. Junior middle hitter Katie Reiss (Louisville, Neb./Home Schooled) added 10 kills, 5 digs and 2 blocks, and sophomore outside hitter Meghan Ward (Overland Park, Kan./Christ Preparatory Academy) contributed 7 kills, one service ace and 9 digs. Senior libero Channa Hess (York, Neb./McCool Junction Public School) finished with 19 digs and a service ace, and freshman setter Amber Carlson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast H.S.) set a season-high 46 assists and had 11 digs, one assisted block and one service ace. Freshman defensive specialist Rhylee Richardson (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Benson H.S.) recorded 14 digs, and sophomore right-side hitter Taylor Shaefer (Longmont, Colo./Longmont Christian H.S.) added 3 kills, served 2 aces and dug up 6 opponent attack attempts. With Shaefer at the service line for nine consecutive points in set one, Grace gained control and went from a 6-6 tie to a 15-6 lead. Entz accounted for three of the points with 2 kills and a block, and Shaefer served an ace. In set two, Grace fell behind 5-1 but came back and gained its first lead, 11-10. The Royals later led 18-12 before Union cut the lead to 19-18. Grace then scored four consecutive points on two kills and a block by Entz and a kill by Reiss and led 23-18 enroute to a 25-21 set win. Grace led early 3-2, and later gained an 13-11 lead, its biggest lead of the set, but Union gained its biggest lead, 20-16. Grace scored four consecutive points and tied the match 20-20, but never led or played even the rest of the set, as the Warriors won set three, 25-22. Union led set four, 16-9, before Grace gradually came back and finally led for the first time, 21-20. Union tied the score at 22, but a ball-handling error by Union gave Grace point 23, and Loewen’s kill accounted for point 24. Loewen and Reiss combined for a block on set and match point. UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Grace volleyball squad returns to action at Mount Marty College, Friday, Sept. 20, in Yankton, South Dakota, at 7 p.m., following a 5 p.m. junior varsity game at MMC.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 03:53:40 +0000
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