"Grace"

  Over the weekend, four of the top twelve teams in the Great Lakes Region competed at the Grace (IN) College Invitational. Unfortunately for the MVNC women's volleyball team, they were the team that came in fourth.

  The Lady Cougars (19-7), ranked sixth in the region, faced St. Xavier (IL) University on Friday. After winning the first game 15-12, MVNC lost the next three 15-8, 15-10, 15-7 to the twelfth-ranked team in the region.

  Tara Seiter led the team with 16 kills and five blocks, while Mandy Metzger served up a team-high three aces in the loss.

  Things did not get any easier for the Lady Cougars on Saturday as they squared off against Aquinas (MI) College, ranked seventh in the region. The Lady Saints knocked off MVNC in three straight games 15-13, 15-12, 15-9.

  Seiter and Christa DeLorenzo led the team with 14 kills each. Seiter and Tammy Custer each finished with three aces, while Seiter recorded a team-high four blocks.

  In the final match of the tournament, MVNC faced the host school, Grace, ranked third in the region. The Lady Lancers defeated the Lady Cougars 15-7, 15-8, 15-13 to avenge an earlier loss to MVNC this season.

  Seiter led the team once again with 17 kills, while DeLorenzo finished with 12 kills. Courtny Testa added a team-high four blocks. For her efforts, Seiter was named to the All-Tournament team.

  "We played well in streaks," said MVNC head coach Paul Swanson. "This tournament featured some very exciting and intense volleyball, and we came out on the unfortunate (losing) side. Hopefully, this will keep us on the hungry and humble side and not on the discouraging and unconfident side."

  The Lady Cougars will return to action on Monday as they travel to Portsmouth to take on Shawnee State University in a Mid-Ohio Conference match.