Women Drop Game to #9 Grace University

The Lady Eagles volleyball team hosted 9th ranked Grace Unviersity this past Tuesday night. Faith was hoping to win the season rubber match, after defeating Grace at home at the Eagles annual Spikefest Tournament, while falling on the road at Grace. Unfortunately, it was Grace who took the match, defeating Faith 3-1. The loss drops Faith to 15-11 on the year.

Faith came out strong in set one, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. Grace rallied back to tie the game at 15 all, and the game stayed that way, tied at 17 apiece when JoJo Hodak stepped to the serve line. Hodak served four points in a row to give the Eagles some cushion, leading 21-17. Grace would get no closer, as the Eagles took game one 25-21. Set two looked to be similar early on, with Faith grabbing an early 6-2 lead. Mistakes began to plague the Eagles, though, and Grace took advantage, buidling a 21-15 lead. This time it was Julia Rocha who responded for the Eagles, serving up five unanswered points to get the Lady Eagles within one. Grace responded with their own four point run to end the Lady Eagles hopes of a set two win, and the match was tied at one apiece. Match three was tight throughout, with Grace holding a slim 11-9 lead. After a side out, Grace opened up that lead, taking a 17-12 lead. Faith ralled back, trailing 20-23, then 23-24, but Grace ended the match, taking a 25-23 set three win and a 2-1 lead. In set four, Grace jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Faith was able to tie things up at 10 apiece. Grace regained a 16-12 lead, but Stephanie Knupp responded with six unanswered to give Faith an 18-16 lead. Faith held a 21-20 lead, but Grace rallied to string together five unanswered to gain the set four and match win.

Faith was led by Rocha with 14 kills. Alyssa Larson added six. JoJo Hodak had 31 digs. Faith will travel to Calvary Bible College on Friday to play in the Midwest Christian College Conference Volleyball Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Faith is the #3 seed and will face Central Christian College of the Bible in their quarterfinal match.