Brilliant Block and Efficient Offense Fuels Four-Set Win Over RV Grace

UPLAND, Ind. – A dynamic display at the net fueled No. 22 Taylor (11-4, 2-1 CL) to a four-set victory over visiting RV Grace (8-7, 1-2 CL) on Wednesday night inside Odle Arena.

Daya Vestal and Alexa Mader led the way with six and five blocks, respectively as TU tallied an incredible 11 blocks against the Lancer attack. The block and McKaylah Flagle's display in the back, collecting 26 digs to lead all players, helped keep the Grace offense under wraps, hitting under .125 in the match.

The Trojans started the night on a tear, scoring the first four points powered by a pair of aces by Suzanne Storey. Keeping their foot on the pedal, TU forced an early timeout which did nothing to slow the momentum as the Trojans cruised to a first set victory behind a hitting percentage of .500 and five service aces.

The Lancers woke up and grabbed an early lead in the second before the teams began trading points. Taylor knotted it at 18 before Grace was able to get just enough breathing room to even it at one apiece with a 25-22 set victory.

The pivotal third set see-sawed back and forth until Reagan Kleiman delivered a pair of kills during a 3-0 stretch to force a timeout by the Lancers.

Taylor did not slow down after the pause and pushed its advantage to 20-8, with Ellie Frey providing four kills and a block as the Trojans cruised to an easy 25-13 victory to take a 2-1 advantage.

Grace responded by taking the first four points of the next set and leading 8-4 in the early going, looking to force a decisive fifth set in a hotly contested matchup.

Kleiman stayed hot and produced six of her 11 kills in the final set, helping TU make a comeback, while Frey also notched six kills in the fourth and Taylor went on a run of 9-2 to grab a 19-14 lead.

A timeout by Grace shifted the tides with the Lancers scoring the next four points and staying within one at 22-21 late in the fourth.

The Trojans left no doubt at the end as Kleiman delivered a kill and a pair of blocks by Vestal closed the book on the Crossroads League victory for TU.

Four hitters put up hitting percentages over .300 for a Taylor attack that hit a sparkling .283 on the night. Frey led the way with 23 kills and 12 digs for an impressive double-double, but hot-hitting nights from Kleiman, Vestal, and Mader gave TU a glimpse at its high ceiling this year.

Taylor continues Crossroads League action at home against Huntington (11-2, 2-1 CL) on Saturday, September 13, with the match set to begin at 1:00 pm.