News Story

Top Ten of 2009

Grace Athletics has made a number of strides throughout 2009 -- from the women's soccer's history-breaking performance to a freshman tennis champion to the men's basketball game against Indiana University.

Said Grace Athletic Director Chad Briscoe: “We thank the Lord for the year in athletics in 2009. We’re grateful that we’ve had the opportunities to use athletics to impact other lives and for our student-athletes to share their faith and to compete in the MCC, NAIA and the NCCAA.”

In no particular order, the Top Ten Stories of the Year are...

Back-to-Back Branson Trips
After graduating three senior starters, the Lancers won a bid to the NAIA National Tournament after being picked to finish sixth in their own conference. The Lancers, led by NAIA All-American center Eric Gaff finished 22-11 (11-5 MCC) and advanced to the Elite Eight round of the tourney for the second straight year. He averaged 21.0 points per game and 12.2 rebounds per game and led the nation in double-doubles.
The Game -- Grace College vs. Indiana University
Grace's men's basketball team got a once-in-a-program opportunity to play the Hoosiers at Assembly Hall and they didn't back down, hanging tough with Indiana University in front of 15,453 fans. The Lancers were within two points with 15 minutes remaining in the game before the Hoosiers pulled away for a 96-73 win. Said 33-year veteran head coach Jim Kessler: “We said on the bus, ‘If you don’t believe that you can do this, then just sit on the bus. But if you believe you can, if you determine you are ready to do it, then let’s get off the bus and go play.’ I couldn’t be more proud of my men.”
Women's Soccer Record Start
For the first time in 17 years, a Grace athletic team opened a season with 10 straight wins. The women's soccer team dominated the non-conference schedule with a perfect 9-0 record, the best start in the program's history. They outscored their opponents 33-2 and recorded 126 shots on goal while holding their opponents to 28.
Sudden Death Win Gives Grace National Tournament Berth
For the first time in a decade, the women's soccer team qualified for the NCCAA National Tournament with a sudden death shootout win over Spring Arbor in the NCCAA Regional Qualifier. Freshman goalkeeper Abigail Burns nailed the game-winning goal after shutting out Spring Arbor's offense for all of regulation and both overtime periods. "Coming in after my freshman year, I never would have thought that this would be where the program would go," said senior Amy Abbitt. "I never thought I would be a part of a team winning the regional and heading to Florida."
Grace Hosts NCCAA National Tournament
Eight of the elite women's basketball teams in the nation came to Winona Lake, Ind., and the Orthopaedic Capital Center for a chance to win the NCCAA Div. I National Championship. The event was held for the first time at Grace College and gave the Lady Lancers an automatic bid into the tournament as the host school. Grace finished sixth in the tournament, as Mt. Vernon Nazarene claimed the championship.
Dynamic Duo Leads Men's Tennis
Freshmen Michael Blevins and Nikola Todorovic led the men's tennis team to an improbable rise in the Mid-Central College Conference. After winning zero conference games the previous four years, the team finished in fourth place with a 6-5 (4-3 MCC) record. Blevins and Todorovic, playing #1 and #2 singles, reached the finals in the MCC Singles Tournament as Blevins took the #1 singles championship. Both players were also elected to the MCC All-Conference Team. Head coach Larry Schuh was named the MCC Coach of the Year as a result of the team's success.
Harshman Beats IWU, Former Coach
After finishing 3-15 and earning no conference victories in her first year at the helm of the volleyball team, second-year head coach Andria Harshman recorded her first MCC victory with a 3-2 win over Indiana Wesleyan. The win snapped a 13-match losing streak in MCC play for Grace's volleyball program dating back to 2007. Harshman also defeated her former coach, IWU head coach Candace Moats. The two earned three MCC championships during their time together at Grace from 1998-2001.
Baseball's Remarkable Comeback
Playing against the top-ranked team in the conference, Grace's baseball team found itself down 9-1 in the bottom of the 7th inning against Taylor. The Lancers scored eight runs to send the game into extra innings. In the top of the 9th inning, Taylor took a 12-9 lead and appeared to clinch the victory; however, a Michael Clark double and a Ryan Eakins triple tied the game before Christopher Burdette sent Eakins home with a walk-off single in the most exciting game of the year.
Women's Track Sets Standard
Led by junior transfer Nikki Burau, the women's track team exploded onto the national scene in the spring of 2009. In her first meet at Grace, Burau set school records in the 60m and 200m, eventually winning All-American status in the NCCAA. Other notables include Amy Misak continuing to break her own record in the steeplechase, Kiera Gray setting the school mark for the high jump, and the quartet of Ashley Thomas, MariJean Wegert, Kristin Hawkins and Misak qualifying for the NAIA Indoor Nationals in the 4x800.
Stolle Continues Her Run
Starting with a perfect undefeated freshman season, Jessica Stolle has continued to lead the women's tennis program upwards at the #1 singles position. She has amassed a career mark of 37-7 at #1 singles, but she made perhaps her biggest improvement this past year at #1 doubles. The tandem of Stolle and Alisha Anthony recorded the best season in the program's history with a 10-3 (6-2 MCC) record.