MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University raced past visiting Grace (Ind.) College by a 3-0 score Thursday night in the Mid-Central College Conference Volleyball Tournament Semifinal in Luckey Arena.

The 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 win propels the Wildcats into the MCC Tournament championship match just a season removed from failing to make the conference tournament with a ninth place finish. IWU returns to the conference championship match which the Wildcats had won seven straight times from 2002-2008.

"When you go through a hard time like the year before it puts everything back in place like it should be," said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Candace Moats. "We just gave everything back to God. From not getting (to the tournament) to the championship match shows that when God takes control who knows what can happen. It's amazing."

Following a slow start to the MCC season with a 1-3 record, Indiana Wesleyan found its rhythm with 11 wins in their final 12 conference matches. Indiana Wesleyan finished second in the MCC standings at 12-4 and earned the No. 2-seed in the postseason tournament. IWU has since plowed through the MCC Tournament against seventh seed Bethel (Ind.) College on Tuesday and tonight against No. 3-seed Grace (17-15).

Moats said, "I am so proud of the girls. It was a tough week but they are such hard workers in school as we have a lot of nurses and pre-med majors. We are all fighting tiredness and sickness but tonight they rallied together to just do this."

Junior middle hitter Peyton Thompson, sophomore outside hitter Rachel Quackenbush and freshman middle hitter Kristine Egebrecht all led the Wildcats with eight kills. Thompson also earned four block assists to lead the team.

Junior libero Kelsey Masuda and freshman outside hitter Rae Brandes each had eight digs while junior outside hitter Kate Denlinger and sophomore defensive specialist Jordan Sudzina each served two aces. Sophomore setter Yui Iwase finished with 32 assists and six digs.

Now Indiana Wesleyan (23-10) will play Taylor (Ind.) University in the MCC championship match on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Upland, Indiana with the conference's automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship at stake. Taylor went undefeated in the MCC regular season and is ranked No. 10 in the NAIA.

"Taylor is outstanding," Moats stated. ""We'll fight because it's all theses girl know. Win or lose we'll stick together and give it our best shot."

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