Foresters Grind Out Four-Set Win at Grace

Winona Lake, Ind. – The Huntington volleyball team battled its way to a gritty four-set win over Grace (25-20, 20-25, 25-21, 26-24) Saturday afternoon inside the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. The victory lifts the Foresters to 23-6 overall and 11-5 in Crossroads League play, keeping them in the top three of the league with one match remaining in the regular season. 

Huntington spoiled Senior Day for Grace in a match defined by long rallies, big blocks and clutch plays down the stretch. After dropping the third set 25-20, the Foresters regrouped with poise and determination in the fourth. Behind the steady hands of Lauren Ross and Haley Kruse, HU built a slim advantage midway through the set, only to see the Lancers rally back and tie things at 23–23. That's when the Foresters' composure showed—Kruse delivered a key kill to push HU ahead, and after a service error tied it once more, Ross snuck in another kill before Maggie Hollon sealed the deal with the match-winning point for a 26–24 finish. 

Kruse led the way with 15 kills and four aces, while Ross dished out 33 assists and added eight kills on a .538 hitting percentage. Hollon chipped in 13 kills, and Leah Carter was a force at the net with seven kills and six blocks. Defensively, Layla Meyer anchored the backcourt with 30 digs as Huntington limited Grace to just a .112 hitting percentage. 

Huntington closes out the regular season on Wednesday with a road match at Spring Arbor before returning home to host a Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinal game next Saturday against an opponent still to be determined. 

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.