Winona Lake, Ind. - The Marian volleyball team got a challenge from Grace College on Friday night, and were unable to match the intensity on enemy territory as the Lancers defeated the Knights in five sets. Marian's loss drops them to 16-8 overall on the season and 10-4 in Crossroads League action, holding a half-game advantage over Bethel for third place in the CL standings.

Grace took the opening game 25-16, taking the set after overcoming an early charge by Marian. The Knights grabbed the first two points and then held control through a back and forth run, but a 6-0 Lancer run through a Marian timeout put the home team on top 14-9. Marian would claw back and get within a pair of the Lancers with Madison Brooks landing a kill around a pair of attack errors, but couldn't close the gap. Grace used a 5-0 run while leading 17-15 to grow their lead to seven, eventually rolling to a 1-0 lead.

Marian responded by winning the second set 25-20, as they broke through an early back and forth at the start of the set to pull in front 10-7. Brooks and Mikayla Christiansen helped build the lead to four at 16-12, but Grace would respond and take an 18-17 lead as they used a pair of three-point bursts. Khori Dryden helped Marian get back in system and push to even the set, as the freshman tied the score at 18 and produced four additional kills to help the Knights win their first game.

The Knights were unable to stack consecutive set wins after winning the second, as Grace prevailed in the third 25-16. The Lancers took charge early and trailed for just two rallies in the game, pushing their lead to five points after 17 rallies. An Emma Lyons service ace would help the Knights inch within three of their medieval counterparts, but a 4-0 run put Grace in control for good. Grace would go on to win 25-16, out-scoring Marian 10-5 over the final 15 rallies.

With the match on the line, Marian dialed up their intensity in the fourth set and jumped in front 8-5 thanks to a 6-1 swing led by Dryden and Averi Lanman. Marian would go in front 11-7, but Grace came roaring back and got within a point of the visitors after scoring three straight. Lanman helped get Marian back in system as they jumped in front by four, and eventually took a 21-15 lead fueled by Christiansen and Nicole Wilkinson. Grace didn't go away quietly however, scoring seven of the next nine rallies to get within one of the Knights, but a Wilkinson kill halted the run. Brooks would finish the set with a kill as Marian won the fourth set 25-22, forcing the fifth and final set.

After using their energy to rally and force the fifth set, Marian came out flat in the final game, allowing seven unanswered points to Grace as the final game began. The Knights chipped away and inched with five points on two separate occasions, but their early deficit was too much to overcome, as Grace went on to win the final set 15-7, taking the match in five sets. 

Logan Smith and Mikayla Christiansen each recorded double-doubles in the loss, with Smith posting 21 assists and 10 digs, while the outside hitter Christiansen had 12 kills and 14 digs. Emma Lyons finished with 14 digs for the match, and Dryden led Marian with 13 kills. Lanman led Marian with five total blocks including one block solo, as Marian had nine total rejections as a team. 

Marian will host their senior day and regular season home finale on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m., as the Knights welcome St. Francis to the PE Center. Senior ceremonies begin at 4:55 p.m.

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