MARION, Ind. - No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan volleyball swept their way to the Crossroads League Tournament Championship with a 3-0 win over No. 24 Grace on Wednesday evening. This is the second straight season that the Wildcats will compete for the league title after sweeping Mount Vernon Nazarene University in last years title match. Grad Student Martina Demarchi recorded her 1,500th career kill in the win.
 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Luckey Arena | Marion, Ind.
• Records: IWU - 30-2, 18-0 CRL  | TU - 20-10, 12-6 CRL
• NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU - #5 | GC - #24
• CRL Tournament Seed: IWU - #1 | GC - #4

MATCH VITALS

• Indiana Wesleyan made the first run of the match with a 4-0 run putting them up 13-6. Following a Lancer timeout Grace went on an 8-1 to take a 17-16 lead. a 9-1 run from the Wildcats led by 2 blocks from Julia Price and 2 kills from Martina Demarchi secured a 25-18 win for the home squad.
• The Lancers took advantage early in set two, taking a 5-1 lead and forcing IWU to use their first timeout. The Wildcats slowly clawed their way back and took a 12-11 lead ona service ace from Camaya Murray. a 7-1 run from the red and gray forced GC to use both of their timeouts before 2 errors from Grace and kill from Marissa Mullins gave IWU a 25-19 win.
• The home team looked to be in control in set three with an 18-13 lead, but a 7-1 run gave the visitors a 20-19 lead late in the set. The Wildcats ended the set on a 6-0 run with 2 kills from both Eva Joldersma and Marissa Mullins to send IWU to the league title match.
• Eva Joldersma paced the offense with 17 kills. Martina Demarchi tallied 10.
• Julia Price posted 7 blocks. Joldersma and Demarchi both recorded 4.
• Cadee Notter led IWU with 27 digs. Camaya Murray had 18.
• Abbigail Porter led the way with 38 assists.

LOOKING FORWARD

• IWU will host No. 22 Marian for the Crossroads League Tournament Championship this Saturday at 5:00 PM
• Links for live stats and video can be found at IWUWIldcats.com.

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