NOV. 10 — Goshen's Season Ends At St. Francis
Cougars outlast Leafs in first game; turn it on in 30-28, 30-16, 30-18 win

Fort Wayne, IN — The Goshen College volleyball team’s season concluded at the University of St. Francis Wednesday night, as Goshen dropped a 28-30, 18-30, 16-30 decision to the host Cougars in the first round of the Mid-Central Conference Tournament. The sixth-seeded Leafs made a strong run at the third-seeded Cougars in the first game, but the two point loss was too much to handle, and Goshen could not recuperate much energy in games two and three.

“We came out strong and played with St. Francis in the first game, losing by only two points,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “We struggled more in the next two games playing mostly defense. Passing and setting were somewhat inconsistent, hindering our offensive opportunities. We didn’t block as well this match as we had in some earlier contests. We continued to work hard inspite of the struggles we were having in execution of the skills.”

Goshen (17-15, 3-5) had difficulty getting any type of offense going in the last two stanzas, as St. Francis jumped ahead in both games and never looked back. The defeat was eerily similar to the Leafs’ loss at St. Francis on Sept. 8, a 13-30, 19-30, 16-30 loss to open the MCC season.

Freshman Carly Feldman what offense Goshen could generate, coming up with 10 kills to go with a solo and two assist blocks. Senior Mindy DeVito tallied seven kills to go with 12 digs, while junior Anna Herdeck scooped 10 digs.

“Although this was a disappointing loss for us, we talked about our growth and performance over the course of the season,”Lehman said. “I am pleased with the progress we’ve made this year. Our young players have gained a lot of valuable playing experience and we had improved so much since our first match against Grace Bible in August. We look forward to next year.”

Check back to this website for the most up-to-date off-season team news and recruiting information. For a complete list of MCC Tournament results and all-conference selections, click here.

NOV. 2 — Leafs Drop Final Regular-Season Match To Grace
Goshen finishes sixth in league; will play St. Francis in MCC Tournament

Junior Anna Herdeck Freshman Mandy Herschberger

Winona Lake, IN — Following a weekend that saw the Goshen College volleyball team record two remarkable five-game wins en route to taking the championship trophy at the Huntington College Tournament, there was no such magic in the Leafs’ final Mid-Central Conference match of the season at Grace College Tuesday night, a 30-21, 17-30, 22-30, 30-23, 7-15 loss to the Lancers.

Goshen (17-14, 3-5) was the stronger team at the match’s outset, but came out flat in games two and three, falling behind by a 2-1 game count to the host Lancers. The Leafs were able to storm back in game four, however, taking a commanding 29-17 lead. A bit of complacency allowed Grace to run off six straight points, though, and Goshen lost some of its momentum in the 30-23 game four win.

That lack of momentum carried over into the deciding game, as Grace raced off to a 6-2 lead at the outset and pushed its lead to 10-6 before taking the 15-7 decider.

“In the beginning of the match we started strong, playing well statistically,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “In the second game we experienced some difficulty with serve receive and it affected our ability to run offense. Although we didn’t get aced very much, our setters were on the run and the hitters were hitting into Grace’s big block. We played inconsistently during the second and third games but pulled it together in the fourth. In the fifth game they jumped out with a few good serves and a good hit. We tried to get the momentum back in the fifth game but it was too late.”

For the game, Goshen posted 10 service errors to nine service aces. The Leafs finished with an attack percentage of just .093, a far cry from their season average of .188.

Senior Mindy DeVito led the offensive attack for Goshen, finishing with 20 kills to go with 19 digs. Junior Anna Herdeck notched 11 kills and a team-leading 25 digs, while freshman Carly Feldman placed 12 kills to complement three solo and four assist blocks. Freshman Mandy Herschberger recorded 24 digs. Classmate Jess Buller set the ball 160 times, notching 39 assists. She had three ball handling errors.

With the loss, Goshen falls to sixth place in the MCC standings. Goshen’s 3-5 league mark puts them ahead of both Huntington and Marian College (3-5 conference records as well) due to head-to-head competition (Goshen defeated Marian 30-15, 30-27, 30-25 on Sept. 22 and beat Huntington 30-24, 30-24, 18-30, 29-31, 15-12 on Oct. 13.) The team will now travel to third-seeded University of St. Francis Wednesday night for a 7:30 p.m. match in MCC Tournament first round action. The Cougars defeated Goshen by a 13-30, 19-30, 16-30 score on Sept. 8 in the Hutzell Athletic Center, the teams’ only meeting of the year.

“We look forward to the conference tournament and feel confident we can win our first round match, if we play up to our abilities,” Lehman said. “In order to win everyone will have to be motivated, we will have to play as a team and pull through statistically.”

For a complete list of conference standings and tournament pairings, click here.

OCT. 29-30 — Goshen Takes Huntington Championship
Leafs go 4-0 on weekend full of remarkable wins, determination

Huntington, IN — Friday night at the Huntington College Tournament, things went well for the Goshen College volleyball team.

Saturday, things got ridiculously good for the Leafs.

After defeating Marian College 30-19, 30-27, 29-31, 30-28 and Robert Morris College 30-22, 30-25, 30-19 Friday evening at Huntington’s Merillat Complex, the Leafs returned on Saturday for two amazing victories over Huntington (11-30, 30-28, 20-30, 30-27, 15-13) and Concordia University (28-30, 25-30, 30-23, 30-27, 16-14) to take the championship trophy home from the four-team round-robin event. What made the wins amazing were the manner in which they occurred: Against Huntington, the Leafs were down by a 5-10 score in the final game. Against Concorida, Goshen trailed 11-14. The team came back to win both, and the team champions trophy.

“I can’t explain how proud I am of this team,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “I saw some things happen this weekend that I’ve never seen before in my life, and didn’t think were possible. It was a great weekend for us, as this team displayed so much desire and heart. I was very proud to be the coach of these young ladies throughout this weekend.”

Goshen’s (17-13, 3-4) weekend didn’t start out with the easiest of tasks, as the Leafs were pitted against Mid-Central Conference rival Marian College for the fourth time this season. After losing to the Knights in two non-conference matches, Goshen was able to defeat Marian in conference play on Sept. 22. The Leafs made it two in a row over Marian Friday, using a steady attack that kept the Knights at bay for most of the evening.

Senior Mindy DeVito led the way against Marian, tallying 17 kills and 20 digs to go with two solo and three assist blocks. Junior Anna Herdeck tallied 14 kills to go with 23 digs, while freshman Mandy Herschberger scooped 25 digs. Freshman Stephanie Kennell provided three assist and two solo blocks, while classmate Jess Buller ran the show, setting the ball 164 times en route to 52 assists. Senior Julia Deter provided two aces in a 17 for 17 serving performance. DeVito recorded a pair of aces as well.

Goshen had little trouble with Robert Morris in Friday’s second match, as Lehman’s squad ran three straight games against the Eagles. DeVito placed 17 kills in the short match, while Herdeck and Herschberger each tallied 11 digs.

The short match against Robert Morris allowed Goshen an early bed time in its Huntington hotel Friday night, and the Leafs would need it: Two of Goshen’s longest matches of the year would follow Saturday, as the day’s opening round against Huntington was anything but uneventful.

After splitting the first four games, Goshen appeared to have momentum on its side by taking game four by a 30-27 count. It was the host Foresters that came out of the gates strongly in the fifth stanza, generating a 5-10 lead on steady offense coupled with a few Leaf errors. Goshen looked to be defeated.

That’s when the first dose of the comeback kids made their appearance.

Goshen put together an amazing string of great plays to finish with a 10 to three run to end with the 15-13 win, making it one of the most incredible comebacks Lehman had ever seen — up to that point in the day.

“We really took the match away from them,” Lehman said of the late win. “It was a very equally played match, and Huntington really had us where they wanted us. We just made enough plays to get back even, and then continued in taking the lead and then the match. It really was an incredible display of teamwork and desire on our part.”

DeVito again was the squad’s leader, finishing with 18 kills. Herdeck put down 16 to go with 23 digs on an 11 for 11 serving effort, while freshman Carly Feldman notched 17 kills. Kennell was 24 for 24 from the service line with 19 digs, while Buller was again steady, finishing with 157 sets and 46 assists.

As soon as the Leafs could catch their collective breath from the exhilarating win over the Foresters, a tough Concordia team was in wait. Goshen promptly lost its first two games against the Cardinals 28-30, 25-30, and it looked as if the Leafs’ final match of the weekend would be a quick one.

That’s until Goshen put together arguably the greatest comeback in program history.

After rattling off 30-23 and 30-27 wins in games three and four to even up the score at 2-2, the Leafs found themselves down by an 11-14 count in the deciding game. With rally scoring in effect, Goshen needed to be flawless to somehow complete yet another miraculous comeback.

Lehman’s team came back to win, 16-14.

“To come back in rally scoring like this is almost unheard of,” an exasperated Lehman said following the win. “Once a team gets 14 points in the fifth game, the other team cannot make a single error and must dig every ball that comes on their side, regardless of how hard it is hit. I’ve never seen something like this. This was just a show of our players’ tenacity and unwillingness to lose. I am so proud of this team for their refusal to give up, when really everyone in the stands knew the match was over. It wasn’t to our team, and they proved it could be done.”

Feldman came up big offensively in the incredible win, notching a team-leading 22 kills to go with two solo and three assist blocks. Herdeck recorded 14 kills and 24 digs, while going 21 for 21 in serving with an ace. Kennell played big at the net, charting one solo and six assist blocks. Buller teamed up with sophomore Jean Boen in running the show, setting 116 times for 32 assists. Boen ended with 64 sets and 16 helpers.

Goshen will now travel to MCC rival Grace College Tuesday night for its final MCC and regular-season match of the season. The MCC Tournament will start Nov. 10. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Winona Lake Tuesday night.

OCT. 26 — Defiance Uses Emotion To Trump Leafs
Goshen can't spoil Yellow Jackets' party in 3-1 loss on road

Senior Mindy DeVito Senior Julia Deter

Defiance, OH — A packed house honoring the three senior members of the Defiance College volleyball team helped push the Yellow Jackets past Goshen Tuesday night, 16-30, 30-24, 28-30, 24-30. The Leafs (13-13, 3-4) got off to a poor start at the Karl H. Weaner Center after struggling in the first game to just a 16-point output, but came back to claim game two. Unfortunately, Defiance came alive, winning a critical game three and then keeping a steady pace to take the fourth game for the 3-1 decision.

“We started out kind of slow in the first game, but we fought back,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “We took the second game because we picked up our serve receive and offense. We were determined, but individuals struggled with various aspects of their game throughout the match.”

Senior Mindy DeVito gave her best effort, notching a team-leading 16 kills and team-leading 25 digs to go with a solo and two assist blocks. Classmate Julia Deter was the only Leaf to not commit a service error on the evening — 11 for 11, one ace — while junior Anna Herdeck finished with 12 kills and 14 digs. Freshman Carly Feldman placed 13 kills to complement a solo and two assist blocks, while classmate Mandy Herschberger finished with 18 digs.

“This match exposed some areas for more intense work in practice for us,” Lehman said. “Learning which areas of the game to work on is valuable for us as we head into our last weeks of the season and tournament play. If we can learn and improve, this loss will not be a waste. I am pleased with our persistence even when things aren’t going as we would like to.”

Goshen will next travel to the Huntington College Tournament this weekend, and will face Mid-Central Conference rival Marian College in the event’s first match Friday at 6 p.m. This non-league match will mark the fourth time Goshen has hooked up with the Knights this season.

OCT. 19 — Goshen Gets Close On Emotional Senior Night
Leafs knock off Indiana Wesleyan in first game; give Wildcats fight in 3-1 loss

True two: Seniors Julia Deter (left) and Mindy DeVito are recognized before the start of Tuesday night’s match with Indiana Wesleyan.

Discussion: Freshman setter Jess Buller talks strategy with classmate Carly Feldman in between serves during game two action.

Goshen, IN — Before the start of Tuesday night’s Mid-Central Conference match with perennial power Indiana Wesleyan University, things got emotional for the Goshen College volleyball team.

It got even more moving after game one had ended.

The Leafs used a tear-jerking farewell to seniors Julia Deter and Mindy DeVito prior to the match to ignite an explosive performance, as Goshen took the 23-7 Wildcats to a 30-27 game one defeat. That emotion continued in the second game, as the Leafs appeared to have the game in hand before a late Wildcat rally gave Wesleyan the 30-28 decision. Unfortunately for Goshen, the squad couldn’t maintain its superior level of play, and dropped the next two stanzas by 25-30 and 19-30 scores.

“We knew going into this match that we were definitely the underdog,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “Wesleyan is a very talented team and there is a reason they are in second place in the conference. Although we continued to work hard throughout the end of the match, we struggled to swing the momentum our way again.”

Goshen (13-12, 3-4) had no problems getting momentum from the outset, as poignant speeches from Lehman and junior Anna Herdeck thanked Deter and DeVito for all they had meant to the team over the past four years.

“Julia is full of life and I love the way she communicates emphatically and in full animation,” Lehman said. “She makes us smile and laugh. I have also appreciated the way she embraces her role and her willingness to contribute to the team in any way needed.”

Things got bittersweet for Herdeck when discussing DeVito, a two-time all-conference player and career top ten holder in several categories. Herdeck spoke about Devito hosting her during her campus visit as a senior in high school, and the friendship that has transcended as a result.

“Our coach thought we would get along when I came here to visit, and he was right,” Herdeck said over the public address system. “You are the type of person that comes along only once in someone’s life, and I will miss you next year as you move on.”

Lehman continued, “Both Mindy and Julia are women of character and they are significant role models for the young players on this team. We will miss them both.”

Incredibly, Goshen wiped away the tears in time to play inspired volleyball, taking an early lead over the Wildcats in game one. The Leafs nearly had game two in their back pockets, but a late Wesleyan run gave the visitors new hope against a very determined Leaf squad.

“We started out strong in the first game and made some key plays,” Lehman said. “We clearly had them rattled and continued to battle them in the second game. We came back in the second after being down to recapture the lead, only for Wesleyan to come back at the very end and win by two points. We just couldn’t get it back in games three and four.”

On the night, Goshen scooped 93 total digs, led by DeVito’s 22 digs. Freshman Mandy Herschberger notched 21 digs, while Herdeck scooped 17 to go with 15 kills. Freshman Carly Feldman finished with a team-leading 20 kills and five service aces, while Herdeck placed 15 kills. DeVito finished with 13 attacks for points, as well as one solo and two assist blocks.

“Our serve receive was a little sporadic and our serving percentage (.861) was too low,” Lehman said. “I am pleased that the players continue to stay positive and work together on the court even when the score is not in our favor, however.”

Goshen will return to work on the practice court and will travel to Defiance College on Tuesday, for an out-of-conference match. Event time is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.

OCT. 16 — Team Takes Split At Manchester Tri-Match
Leafs beat Hanover, fall to Manchester in lengthy afternoon match

Freshman Jess Buller Freshman Carly Feldman

North Manchester, IN — A late addition to the schedule placed the Goshen College volleyball team at the Manchester College Tri-Match Saturday, and the Leafs came away with a split: Goshen defeated Hanover College 27-30, 30-16, 30-18, 30-16 in the day’s first match, but lost a tough, lengthy 23-30, 30-18, 26-30, 30-28, 12-15 decision to the host Spartans in the afternoon match.

“Overall, this was a good day for us,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “We played together as a team today and our communication was strong. We would have liked to have taken two, but Manchester played very well against us.”

Goshen (13-11, 3-3) began the day’s activities with a solid win over the Panthers, despite a slow start out of the gates. After losing the first game by just three points, the Leafs didn’t allow Hanover out of the teens for the rest of the match, dominating all aspects of play.

Senior Mindy DeVito led the attack with 19 kills and 23 digs to go with a solo and two assist blocks, while freshman Carly Feldman placed 12 kills and took part in seven total blocks. Junior Anna Herdeck finished with 20 digs and a 28 for 28 serving performance. Freshman Jess Buller placed 51 assists in the match off of 134 sets.

“We started pretty slow in the first game but picked up the momentum in the second,” Lehman said. “Statistically we had a good match, as our serve receive was right on target with a team passing efficiency above 2.0 (out of 3.0). Jess was connecting well with the hitters and they were putting the ball down. We put up a solid block just as we have for the past several matches.”

The afternoon match against Manchester was a see-saw battle that could have gone to either side, but the host Spartans were too tough down the stretch and took a deciding 15-12 decision in the fifth game. Again the Leafs were slow to start, but a 30-18 game two victory helped to regain some momentum. A back and forth final three games witnessed the Spartans come away with only a total five-point advantage — good enough for the five-game win.

“Manchester’s defense was incredible and they just wouldn’t let anything hit the ground,” Lehman said. “Although we have played some other matches with really long rallies, this match had the most long rallies of any that we’ve played yet. Even though statistically we played better against Hanover, we fought hard against Manchester.”

An indicator of just how long points took in the match could be seen by Buller’s set count, as the freshman notched a season-high 169 sets en route to 62 assists in the five-game marathon. DeVito finished with a ridiculous 27 kills, while Feldman notched 20 attacks for points. She also had four solo and one assist block to go with 22 digs. Herdeck finished with a team-high 29 digs and eight kills, while freshman Mandy Herschberger scooped 18 digs in the match.

Goshen will next face off against Mid-Central Conference foe Indiana Wesleyan in the team’s final home match of the season Tuesday night. Match time is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start time.

OCT. 13 — Leafs Outlast Huntington In Big 3-2 Win
Goshen stays composed after two-game lead dissipates; evens MCC mark

Senior Mindy DeVito Junior Anna Herdeck

Huntington, IN — Wednesday night at Huntington College’s Merillat Complex, things couldn’t have gone better for the Goshen College volleyball team.

And then things couldn’t have gone worse.

Fortunately, a gritty fifth-game effort caused things to turn out just fine in the end for the Leafs, as Goshen got a big Mid-Central Conference win in a 30-24, 30-24, 18-30, 29-31, 15-12 test-your-spirit marathon that left Goshen head coach Jewel Lehman reeling afterwards.

“What a match. . .what a match,” Lehman said. “We showed a lot of mental toughness and heart for a young team tonight. We were able to regain control when the momentum was completely against us. I am very pleased with some of the qualities we demonstrated tonight. It was a great job from all of our players.”

It first appeared that Goshen (12-10, 3-3) would exit the Foresters’ arena in quick fashion, as the Leafs cruised to a pair of 30-24 wins to take a two games to none lead just an hour into the match. Lehman’s team used superior blocking — 23 total on the evening — and excellent passing to overwhelm Huntington from the outset, silencing the large crowd in attendance and capturing all the momentum from the host team.

The Foresters would not go quietly, however, as improved play combined with Goshen errors led to a 30-18 haymaker in game three.

“In the beginning of the third game we hit a few balls out of bounds and found ourselves fighting from behind,” Lehman said. “We lost our focus and started playing tentatively. Once that happened, Huntington was able to walk away with it.”

Goshen collected itself in the fourth game, but a back and forth affair ended with Huntington securing several key points down the stretch. The Foresters’ 31-29 game four win had the crowd in a frenzy, and all appeared bleak for Lehman’s team in a hostile environment.

“It got pretty loud in there after we dropped a close fourth game,” Lehman said. “We came out playing to win but Huntington was passing perfectly and drilling the ball at us. A few critical mistakes and failing to terminate several plays allowed them to take the momentum and they squeaked out the win.”

With the impetus on Huntington’s side, Goshen was able to stay close in game five. The deciding stanza went back and forth up to the 11-11 score, when the Leafs were able to put together consecutive points to edge ahead. Timely hits and quality serving in the final game kept Goshen ahead, and Lehman’s team escaped with an impressive 15-12 match-deciding score.

“A few key plays for us sealed the match,” Lehman said. “To our players’ credit, we never panicked or went away from our team play (in the fifth game). I couldn’t be prouder of how we handled ourselves in that final game.”

A team effort was the company line for Goshen on the evening, as the team recorded 100 total digs and 61 kills. Senior Mindy DeVito provided 19 kills and 20 digs, while junior Anna Herdeck paced 15 kills to go with 26 digs. Freshman Carly Feldman notched 17 kills to go with two solo and five assist blocks. Classmate Jess Buller dished out 59 assists off of 166 sets, while freshman Stephanie Kennell was 17 for 17 from the serving liune with three aces. She also had four assist blocks. DeVito notched five assist and one solo block.

Goshen will next travel to the Manchester College Tri-Match on Saturday, a late addition to the schedule. Goshen will face off against Hanover College at 2 p.m. and then face the host school at 4 p.m.

OCT. 5 — Goshen Can't Get To #18 Taylor
Squad drops 30-23, 30-25, 30-18 MCC decision on home floor

Stout D: Freshmen Carly Feldman and Stephanie Kennell team up to block a Trojan attacker Tuesday night.

Passing low: Junior Anna Herdeck finished the night with a team leading 11 kills and 12 digs.

Goshen, IN — With a tall task confronting the Goshen College volleyball team Tuesday night in the form of 18th-ranked Taylor University, it was the visiting Trojans that got the best of the Leafs, winning by a 30-23, 30-25, 30-18 score. Goshen fell behind early in the first game and couldn’t recover, setting the stage for what would be a disappointing evening according to head coach Jewel Lehman.

“Going into this match we knew what we had to do to win,” Lehman said. “We didn’t execute our game plan as well as we had hoped. We struggled with the fundamentals in our passing and serving. It was a disappointing loss for us because we know we can play better and we should have been able to, at the very least, taken a game from them.”

Goshen (11-10, 2-3) got behind early in game one, but recovered to play the Trojans tight in games two and three. Both times, however, it was Goshen that made errors late, giving Taylor a 30-25 and 30-18 win to complete the sweep.

“We were right with Taylor in the second game up until the end when we had a few errors at critical times,” Lehman said. “The third game we were ahead in spurts at the beginning and into the middle of the game, but at 18 points we lost our focus and made too many errors allowing them to run away with the match.”

Leading the way for Goshen was senior Mindy DeVito and junior Anna Herdeck, as the twosome finished with 11 kills and 12 digs apiece. Freshman Carly Feldman provided nine kills to go with three solo blocks, while classmate Jess Buller dished out 18 assists off 136 sets. Freshman Mandy Herschberger scooped 11 digs.

The Leafs will now take a short recess over Fall Break before returning to the court Wednesday, Oct. 13 when the team will travel to Mid-Central Conference foe Huntington College. Match time is slated for 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 29 — Leafs Run Roughshod Over Grace Bible
Goshen eclipses record-breaking marks in 30-11, 30-14, 30-11 win

Incredible night: Senior Mindy DeVito passes in game two Wednesday night. She finished with a school-record .813 attacking percentage on the evening.

Elevation: Freshman Carly Feldman hammers one of her eight kills during game one action against Grace Bible.

Goshen, IN — Facing a clearly overmatched opponent in Grace Bible College Wednesday night, the Goshen College volleyball team tried to focus on its own game rather than the scoreboard.

With two school records set and a 30-11, 30-14, 30-11 win over the visiting Tigers, its safe to say the Leafs were tuned in.

Goshen (11-9, 2-2) got great effort all around, led by senior Mindy DeVito’s 13 kills. DeVito committed no errors in attacking the net 16 times, generating a .813 attack percentage, tops in school history in a single match. DeVito also provided 11 digs, and helped her squad to a team attack percentage of .365, also a single-match program record.

“This was a fun match for us,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “We played fairly well and were able to run some of the play sets we have been working on. We established some specific goals to focus on so that we could play our game and continue to work hard.”

Helping DeVito to the sweep were junior Anna Herdeck (nine kills, .692 attack percentage) and freshman Carly Feldman (eight kills, six digs). Sophomore Jean Boen and freshman Jess Buller shared setting duties, with Boen notching 10 assists off of 28 attempts while Buller recorded 13 helpers off 41 tries. Freshman Mandy Herschberger supplied a team-high 12 digs in the win.

Goshen will face an alumni team in an exhibition match over homecoming weekend before returning to regular season play on Tuesday. Goshen will travel to Mid-Central Conference rival Taylor University Tuesday night. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 28 — Goshen Lets Spring Arbor Close, But Not Over
Leafs hold off host Cougars by 30-28, 30-26, 30-27 score to even league record

Freshman Carly Feldman Senior Mindy DeVito

Spring Arbor, MI — It was a case of the Goshen College volleyball team being just good enough Tuesday night, as the Leafs held off a determined Spring Arbor University squad by a 30-28, 30-26, 30-27 score to even its Mid-Central Conference record to 2-2. Goshen (10-9, 2-2) was able to use a stellar defensive effort — four solo blocks, 18 assist blocks, 93 digs — to either stay ahead or even with the Cougars throughout the entire match, though head coach Jewel Lehman said she believed her team could have played better.

“We played well enough to stay just ahead of Spring Arbor for much of the match but not strong enough to keep a comfortable lead,” Lehman said. “We lost our focus in the middle of the first and second games and allowed them to come back and match our score. To bring our game up a notch, we need to be able to consistently pass and set more accurately so our offense is quicker and more varied.”

Lehman received strong play at the net from freshman Carly Feldman, who finished with 13 kills and 11 digs. She also tallied a solo block and four assist blocks. Senior Mindy DeVito recorded a team-high 20 digs to go with six kills and five assist blocks (one solo), while junior Anna Herdeck recorded 19 digs to go with nine kills. Freshman Jess Buller finished with 27 assists in 125 sets to run the offense.

“Everyone contributed to this win and we are pleased with the positive attitude and team cohesion this year,” Lehman said. “This was a good win for us as a collective unit.”

Goshen will return to its home floor in under 24 hours, as the team will host Grace Bible College tomorrow night. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 24-25 — Leafs Take Fourth Place At Wheaton Invite
Squad defeats Rockford, Tri-State on Friday but drops two matches Saturday

Wheaton, IL — A pair of wins Friday couldn’t push Goshen to the championship match of the Wheaton College Invitational on Saturday, as the Leafs suffered a player injury and dropped two matches en route to taking a fourth place finish at the eight-team invitational.

“It was a good weekend for us in that we were able to play some quality teams and were able to work out some things on the floor,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “It was bad in that we lost freshman Stephanie Kennell to an ankle sprain Saturday morning. We couldn’t seem to recover mentally from that, and dropped two matches.”

Goshen (9-9, 1-2) defeated Rockford College by a 30-24, 32-30, 30-24 count to open play Friday evening, using a steady dose of senior Mindy DeVito and freshman Carly Feldman to pound the Regents into a sweep. DeVito and Feldman each finished with 14 kills, while the pair combined for a total five blocks. Junior Anna Herdeck got in the mix with nine kills and 11 digs, while freshman Mandy Herschberger provided 18 digs. Kennell came up with three assist blocks. Sophomore Jean Boen came into the lineup to lift 19 assists in 63 sets in the win.

“We struggled a bit in the first game, especially in the setting position,” Lehman said. “After making some adjustment, we pulled together for the win in the first game and started strong in the second. We lost some focus in the second game but demonstrated some mental toughness by staying with them and winning in the end.”

The Leafs continued the strong play in the final match of the night, defeating Tri-State by a 30-24, 30-22, 30-26 score. DeVito again was aggressive at the net, finishing with a team-high 16 kills and 12 digs. Herdeck drilled nine kills to go with 15 digs, while Feldman charted eight attacks for points to go with a solo and assist block.

“We were in control for most of the match, keeping the momentum and staying ahead,” Lehman said. “Overall we hit very well as a team and our team serve receive passing efficiency was average. This was a good win for us, and the two wins on the day helped to build our confidence.”

Facing Wheaton in the first game Saturday, Goshen looked a bit sluggish. The team dropped the first two games by 25-30 and 27-30 scores, when Kennell went down early in the third. Losing its starting right side attacker, Goshen could not recuperate and dropped the third game by a 20-30 score.

“We stayed with Wheaton in the first and second games but weren’t quite able to pull out the wins,” Lehman said. “We missed too many serves and had some trouble hitting around their block, despite the fact that they weren’t very tall. We struggled some on serve receive but our tenacious defense kept us in the games.”

Herdeck led the team with 18 digs in the short match, while Herschberger placed 16 digs and DeVito 15. Feldman notched 13 kills in the loss, while Herdeck tallied nine. Freshman Jess Buller ran the offense for most of the match, setting 111 times and coming up with 30 assists.

The loss to Wheaton dropped Goshen to 2-1 in pool play — and in second place to the host Thunder — setting up a third place match against Carthage College early Saturday afternoon. Without Kennell in the lineup, however, the Lady Reds were too much, winning by a 30-18, 28-30, 30-22, 30-20 count.

“Without Steph on the right side, we made a line up change for this match,” Lehman said. “Carthage was a fairly tall team with a strong attack and they rocked us in the first game. We adjusted the lineup again and managed to pull it together for a win in the second game. We stayed with the same line up in the third game but struggled with passing, setting and made too many mental errors.”

Goshen got big production from its big three of Feldman, 14 kills, 10 digs; DeVito, 12 kills, 16 digs and Herdeck, 10 kills, 17 digs, while that group combined for eight of the team’s 10 total blocks. Buller again ran the setting position, dishing 97 sets for 29 assists. She committed no ball handling errors.

As a result of its loss to Carthage, Goshen finished in fourth place. Trinity International University won the championship, defeating Wheaton in the final match. For a complete list of team finishes and results, click here.

Goshen will return to Mid-Central Conference action next, when the team will travel to the Spring Arbor University on Tuesday. Kennell is expected to play in that event. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 22 — Goshen Thwarts Marian Hat Trick Attempt
Leafs come up with 30-15, 30-27, 30-25 win in match that matters most

Teaming up: Freshmen Carly Feldman and Steph Kennell combine for a block against Marian during game one action Wednesday night.

Through the block: Freshman Mandy Herschberger drills one of her four kills over a Marian block attempt.

Goshen, IN — Up until Wednesday night at the Roman Gingerich Center, the Marian College volleyball team had Goshen College’s number: The Knights defeated Goshen by 3-0 sweeps in both the Maple Leaf Invitational (a 30-21, 30-23, 30-28 win on Sept. 10) and at the Marian College Tri-Match (a 30-24, 30-20, 30-23 win this past Saturday).

Apparently, the Leafs just needed the stakes to be higher.

Facing Marian for the third time of the season — but only the first in Mid-Central Conference competition — Goshen ran off a 30-15, 30-27, 30-25 overhaul of the Knights Wednesday evening. With the win, Goshen improved its overall record to 7-7 on the season and upped its MCC count to 1-2, greatly pleasing head coach Jewel Lehman and the vocal crowd in attendance Wednesday night.

“This was a very big conference win tonight,” Lehman said. “Our players were so determined and it was evident by the way we attacked the ball, blocked and played defense. We played tough defense and were able to keep many of their hits and tips off the ground. We knew that Marian would keep the ball in play so we told the players to stay with the rally until the end.”

Goshen (7-7, 1-2) did exactly that, outlasting Marian in almost every aspect. Lehman’s team slowly built a large lead in the first game, eventually doubling Marian’s point total en route to the 30-15 win. Games two and three were more competitive, but Goshen maintained control in each. Every Marian mini-run was answered with a Leaf block or attack for point, as Goshen finished with 41 kills on the night and 23 blocks, both team highs for a three-game match this season.

“We practiced specifically to prepare for their big block and their crossing patterns on offense,” Lehman said. “Our players were able to execute our game plan well throughout, and they also brought a high level of energy. It was a good night for us in a lot of ways.”

Freshman Carly Feldman was a presence in the middle, finishing with 17 kills and four assist blocks. Senior Mindy DeVito tallied 10 kills to go with six assist and two solo blocks, while junior Anna Herdeck rattled off 17 digs to go with seven kills and three assist blocks.

Freshman Mandy Herschberger scooped 15 digs to go with a 15 for 15 serving performance, while classmate Jess Buller dished out 36 assists from her setting position. On the evening, Goshen recorded a team hitting percentage of .231.

Goshen will next participate in the Wheaton College Invitational Tournament this weekend. The Leafs will open with Park University at 5 p.m. Friday night.

SEPT. 18 — Squad Settles For Split At Marian Tri-Match
Leafs beat Oakland City but drop three-game match to Marian in one-day event

Junior Anna Herdeck Freshman Jess Buller

Indianapolis, IN — It was a taste of opposite ends of the spectrum for the Goshen College volleyball team Saturday at the Marian College Tri-Match, as the Leafs defeated Oakland City University 30-24, 28-30, 30-23, 30-24 in the day’s first match but dropped a 24-30, 20-30, 23-30 to the host Knights in the afternoon’s final competition. Goshen produced its best serve receive effort and passing efficiency mark in the win over the Mighty Oaks to start the day, but was hampered by Marian’s tall front line and a power outage in the loss, making it a bittersweet day for Goshen head coach Jewel Lehman.

“I was very pleased with our performance against Oakland City, but it was a frustrating afternoon for a lot of reasons against Marian,” Lehman said. “Hopefully we can build on these quite different experiences to better ourselves over the next few weeks.”

The Leafs (6-7, 0-2) used a 2.10 passing efficiency rating — the team’s best mark of the season — to discard Oakland City in four games, coming up with 104 team digs in the match. Goshen used its deft passing to set up a potent offense which led to 57 kills on the match. Senior Mindy DeVito led the way with 16 kills and three solo and three assist blocks, while freshman Carly Feldman placed 18 kills. Junior Anna Herdeck led the passing frenzy with 21 digs and four assist blocks, while freshmen Mandy Herschberger and Stephanie Kennel each provided 20 digs. Classmate Jess Buller handled the setting duties, placing 160 sets for 42 assists in the win.

“Our serve receive and defense was the best I’ve seen this season,” Lehman said. “That allowed us to run a quicker, more deceptive offense. Additionally, our front line did a great job of stopping Oakland’s primary hitters and most of the hits that did get through were dug. Overall, we served well and four of the six in the starting lineup were attacking well. We lost our focus a bit in the second game but we were able to pull together to take the next two games.”

Goshen could not duplicate that effort against Marian, however, facing the Knights for the second time of the year in a non-conference match — the first was at the Maple Leaf Invitational on Sept. 10 — and dropping its second 3-0 defeat to the Knights. Marian was able to limit Goshen to a .156 attack percentage and used a powerful hitting lineup to sweep the Leafs. It didn’t help that Goshen’s lone push of the afternoon was halted by the lights going out in Marian’s Physical Education Center, forcing a 15-minute delay of the match and helping cease the Leafs’ run.

Herdeck paced Goshen with a perfect service performance — nine for nine — and coming up with 14 digs, while DeVito dropped two solo blocks. Feldman provided nine kills, while Kennel scooped 10 digs. Buller again ran the offense, placing 24 assists off of 100 sets. She also notched three aces from the service line.

“We passed well in this match but struggled a bit at the net with Marian’s big front row,” Lehman said. “Mindy received the serve well — 2.64 passing efficiency average — passing almost every ball with perfect accuracy. Our block touched quite a few balls, but Marian used our block to their advantage. Inconsistent officiating and the delay added to the frustration of not playing as well as we had earlier in the day.”

Goshen will not have to wait long to complete its hat trick with Marian, as the Knights will again travel to the Roman Gingerich Center this Wednesday for a Mid-Central Conference match. Event time is slated for a 7 p.m. start.

SEPT. 15 — Leafs Can't Get Rolling Against Bethel
Service and serve receive errors lead to 21-30, 25-30, 23-30 loss to Pilots

In the face: Junior Anna Herdeck receives a serve in the first game of Wednesday’s match against Bethel College.

Skying: Freshman Carly Feldman gets up for one of her team-leading 10 kills against Bethel.

Goshen, IN — It was a rough go of things for the Goshen College volleyball team Wednesday night, as the Leafs could not find their “A game” in a 21-30, 25-30, 23-30 loss to Mid-Central Conference rival Bethel College in the Roman Gingerich Center. A large crowd witnessed Goshen (5-6, 0-2) manage just a .847 serve receive percentage and commit 11 service errors, two areas first-year head coach Jewel Lehman said the team must improve on to be competitive.

“The balls we passed in serve receive in the first game were fairly accurate, but we were aced too many times,” Lehman said. “Furthermore, our serving errors really hurt us. We are trying to improve our level of play by serving tough. We our hoping to bring our percentage above 90 percent again, and we need to be able to get on a roll and score several points in a row before the loss of rally.”

The Leafs battled hard in the first game, but Bethel was able to put on a late run to push the game out of reach. Goshen had early leads in both the second and third stanzas, but key errors ignited Pilot runs in each game, giving the Leafs little chance of pulling out a win.

Freshman Carly Feldman was Goshen’s biggest offensive weapon on the evening, going for 10 kills with a .348 attack percentage. Classmate Jess Buller was responsible for running the team’s offense for the majority of the night, placing 15 assists off of 72 sets. Freshman Mandy Herschberger provided 18 digs, a team high.

“Tonight we would make a really nice play and follow it by an error or two,” Lehman said. “Our young players are learning a lot on the court with all of this playing time and they are slowly beginning to respond to the increased pace of the college game. We continue to look to leaders Mindy DeVito (senior) and Anna Herdeck (junior) to be the cornerstones of serve receive and our offense. Our coaching staff continues to evaluate the best possible line up.”

Goshen will next travel to Indianapolis to take part in the Marian College Tri-Match this Saturday. The team will face Oakland City University at 2 p.m. to begin the one-day event.

SEPT. 10-11 — Goshen Finishes 1-3 In Own Invitational
Leafs defeat Michigan Dearborn; struggle with rest of talented field

Splitting the block: Freshman Carly Feldman splits an Adrian block attempt Friday night. Feldman finished with 13 kills.

Efficient: Freshman Jess Buller makes a nice pass against Marian Friday night.

Goshen, IN — A balanced five-team field comprised the annual Maple Leaf Invitational this weekend, leaving a young Goshen team with a fifth place finish and a 1-3 weekend record over the two-day event. Goshen dropped matches against Adrian College (27-30, 27-30, 30-32) and Marian College (21-30, 23-30, 28-30) to open the event Friday evening, but responded with better play on Saturday: The Leafs rebounded against the University of Michigan Dearborn with a come-from-behind 24-30, 30-18, 30-17, 30-19 victory in their first match Saturday. Unfortunately, Goshen could not finish out the day as it opened, dropping a three-game match to Judson College 23-30, 19-30, 30-32 to conclude the round robin tournament.

“I think we learned a bit about ourselves and what we need to do to be successful against quality teams this weekend,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “There were times when we played better, but overall our passing and level of play was not quite where it was one week ago. I believe we realize this, and now we must get back to practice to improve on different areas.”

Goshen (5-5, 0-1) learned quickly that this year’s invitational was full of talented teams, as both Adrian and Marian defeated the Leafs in three-game sets. Lehman’s team had troubles stopping Adrian’s powerful middle hitter, Lauree Dermyer, and as a result couldn’t get its offense on track.

“We started out strong and scored a few points on Adrian, and we had the momentum,” Lehman said. “Sadly, we let it slip away in the middle of the first game. We needed to stop Dermyer, but we weren’t able to. We began to make adjustments needed on the court in the third game but by then it was a little late. We will be stronger when we can use scouting information to our advantage and adjust to observed tendencies in the first half of the first game.”

Goshen was led by senior Mindy DeVito’s 16 kills and .484 attack percentage, while freshman Carly Feldman provided 13 kills to go with two solo blocks. Freshman Mandy Herschberger scooped a team-leading 17 digs while junior Anna Herdeck notched 14 digs along with eight kills. Sophomore Jean Boen was perfect in both serving — 19 for 19 — and setting — 117 for 117 — and finished with 33 assists.

The Leafs low point of the weekend came against Mid-Central Conference rival Marian, as Goshen could not get its passing on track and subsequently had difficulties generating any type of offense. Feldman paced what offensive attack there was, placing nine kills to go with three solo blocks. Herdeck recorded another 17 digs, and had eight kills in the 3-0 loss.

“We struggled with Marian largely because our passing efficiency was pretty low,” Lehman said. “This affected our ability to establish a strong offense and made us scramble to stay in the games. We switched some things around as we continue to explore what line up combinations will emerge as the strongest for us. We did have some great digs in this match against some powerful hitting.”

After a night of rest, Goshen came back on Saturday and played its most inspired volleyball against Michigan Dearborn, falling in the first game but coming back to keep the Wolves under 20 in the final three games. Freshman Jess Buller came in and ran the offense well, placing 90 sets for 33 assists. After a first game in which Dearborn passed with great efficiency, it was Goshen’s turn to take the offensive command: Three players finished with double-figure kills for the match, the only time the Leafs were able to boast of such numbers during the weekend.

“This was really a great win for us,” Lehman said. “Dearborn’s passing began to break down in the second game, giving us a window of opportunity to score some points. We took advantage of this and played tough the rest of the match. We were communicating well on the court and connecting with the hitters better on offense. It was fun to see the players run some of the play sets that we’ve been practicing. We blocked and served well throughout the match.”

Herdeck led the way for the Leafs with 15 kills and 16 digs. Feldman notched 11 kills to go with three solo blocks, while DeVito registered 10 kills. Herschberger again was a dynamo in the back, recording a team-leading 18 digs.

With a chance to possibly finish as high as second place in the tournament, Goshen could not get much done against a talented Judson team in Saturday’s afternoon match. The Leafs did push the final game to a 30-32 tilt, but the Eagles simply overpowered Goshen in games one and two.

“Our serving percentage was above 90 percent as a team in this match, but Judson passed so well throughout the entire match that we had some difficulty defending against their quick offense,” Lehman said. “Consequently, we were blocked quite a bit in this match. Although we didn’t block well in our own right, our back row defense is keeping a lot of balls in play. Judson is a tough team and they played well. They refused to let the ball hit the floor.”

Buller ran the offense for half of the match, this time recording 75 sets and dishing out 15 assists. Boen shared duties with Buller, generating 17 assists off of 56 sets. Herdeck led the Leafs’ offense with 10 kills, while DeVito scooped 19 digs. Feldman recorded nine kills to go with two solo blocks.

Marian won the event with a 3-1 record, losing only to Judson (2-2). For a complete list of game scores and final standings, click here.

Goshen will return to its home floor on Wednesday, when the team opens its home MCC season against rival Bethel College. Match time is slated for 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 8 — Leafs Get First True Test At St. Francis
Defending MCC champs take out Goshen 30-13, 30-19, 30-16

Freshman Carly Feldman Freshman Mandy Herschberger

Fort Wayne, IN — As if the Mid-Central Conference wasn’t tough enough, the Goshen College women’s volleyball team had to open its conference schedule against 2003 champion University of St. Francis on Wednesday night. And, as a true championship-caliber team would, the Cougars played to their potential in a 30-13, 30-19, 30-16 win over the Leafs at the Hutzell Athletic Center.

“It was tough to open our conference play with last year’s MCC champion, but we were able eventually relax a bit in the second game and battle with them a bit,” said Jewel Lehman, Goshen head coach. “Overall we struggled with passing efficiency and didn’t serve quite as tough as necessary against a talented team such as St. Francis. We had several great blocks and digs and we stayed in there and played tough, though.”

Goshen (4-2, 0-1) had a difficult time generating offense against the Cougars, as no Maple Leaf recorded double-figure kills in the match — freshman Carly Feldman led the way with seven. Junior Anna Herdeck provided a team-high 11 digs against the hard-hitting St. Francis team, while freshman Mandy Herschberger scooped nine digs. Goshen only recorded two service aces on the night while making seven services errors, and finished with a passing rating of 1.46, well below the team’s average at last weekend’s Coca-Cola Quaker Classic Tournament.

“A few nagging minor injuries affected our play a bit tonight so we look forward to having everyone back to 100 percent soon,” Lehman said. “We are very excited about being at home and hosting the Maple Leaf Invitational this weekend.”

Goshen will host the annual invitational beginning Friday at 6 p.m. For a complete list of competing teams, complete schedule and real-time scoring updates, click here.

SEPT. 3-4 — Goshen Takes Third At Quaker Classic
Team goes 3-1 on weekend in eight-team invite; DeVito named all-tournament

Senior Mindy DeVito

Richmond, IN — Youth, a new coaching philosophy and a team small in numbers have yet to hamper the Goshen College volleyball team this season, as the Leafs took home third place at this weekend’s eight-team, Earlham College Coca-Cola Quaker Classic. Goshen defeated Bluffton University 30-22, 30-24, 31-19 to open the event Friday night, and then took care of Heidelberg College 30-23, 27-30, 30-27, 27-30, 15-12. The Leafs’ only flaw of the weekend came in an early Saturday morning 23-30, 34-36, 24-30 loss to Centre College, but Goshen responded by beating Taylor University-Fort Wayne 30-16, 30-22, 26-30, 30-18 in the third-place match. The weekend pushed Goshen to 4-1 on the season, as first-year head coach Jewel Lehman said she was proud of her eight-player squad’s effort and execution during the tournament.

“This really was an excellent weekend for us,” Lehman said. “We gained a lot of valuable experience and I was pleased overall with our play. We are becoming a good defensive team with a lot of persistence and everyone is contributing. Our returning players have provided important leadership and our new players are not playing like first-year college athletes. This volleyball team is perhaps the most cohesive and fun group that I’ve worked with to date. I think we are all starting to look forward to what this season could bring.”

The first round of the Quaker Classic brought a quick victory for the Leafs (4-1, 0-0), as Bluffton could not get its offense going against a tough Goshen defense. Lehman’s squad recorded a total 20 blocks in the three-game match, while generating 41 kills from the offensive end. Freshman Carly Feldman led the way with 11 kills, while sophomore Jean Boen poured out 33 assists from her setting position. Senior Mindy DeVito helped lead a balanced defensive effort, supplying 15 digs to go with three solo and five assist blocks. Junior Anna Herdeck provided 14 digs, while freshman Jessica Buller was again on a tear from the serving line, firing off four aces in 16 serve attempts.

“We served and passed the ball well against Bluffton,” Lehman said. “We were able to shut down their best attacker with several blocks right from the beginning of the game. Communication on offense was much improved over Tuesday night (at Grace Bible College). All players contributed in this win.”

The Leafs then took part in without question the oddest match of the weekend, winning against Heidelberg in a questionably-officiated five game match that left both head coaches puzzled at times. In the end, it was Goshen that was able to play through the ebb and flow, taking a match in which three of the games ended in 30-27 scores.

“This was a very exciting match for us to win, given that we are such a young team this year,” Lehman said. “Our returning players provided important leadership and our young players demonstrated remarkable maturity in their play. We were able to maintain our focus and stay mentally tough throughout the match. Our back row defense was critical for us in this match.”

Goshen recorded 106 total digs in the match, led by freshman Mandy Herschberger’s 27 pick ups. DeVito supplied 23 digs to go with 15 kills and a .255 attack percentage, while Feldman was a big presence at the net, recording four solo and seven assist blocks to go with a team-high 18 kills. Boen was again perfect in setting, going 166 for 166 with 45 assists. Buller provided four aces again from the serving area.

After a tough 2-0 start on Friday, the Leafs had to face a tough Centre squad at 9 a.m. Saturday. And while the Leafs were close to picking up a win on several occasions — the team stretched the second game to a 34-36 marathon — the Colonels were able to take care of Goshen in three.

“We struggled in this early morning match,” Lehman said. “They were the toughest team we’ve seen yet this season and we were not quite as sharp as we were on Friday. We showed a tremendous amount of perseverance in the second game, and we were able to gain possession numerous times on their game point but just couldn’t score the necessary two in a row.”

Boen led the way with an efficient 39 assists, while Feldman and DeVito placed 17 and 16 kills, respectively. Goshen was able to generate a respectable .253 attack percentage in the loss, but could only come up with 61 digs — Herdeck led that category with 16 on the morning.

With a championship run out of the equation, Goshen would take the third-place match in relative ease over Taylor-Fort Wayne, dropping a 26-30 decision in the third game as its only drawback. DeVito led the Goshen attack with 12 kills and a 96 percent serving efficiency, while Feldman charted 12 kills to go with five solo and five assist blocks. Buller came up with a team-high 20 digs on the match, while Herdeck notched 10 kills and 12 digs. Boen provided 42 assists in playing every point, making one of only three ball handling errors on the weekend.

As a result of her play, DeVito was named to the all-tournament team. Centre College won the tournament, defeating Wilmington College by an 8-30, 30-19, 30-17, 30-17 count.

Goshen will open up Mid-Central Conference play on Wednesday, when the team travels to the University of St. Francis. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m.

AUG. 31 — Leafs Pick Up Win In First Match Of Season
Slow start doesn't deter squad from sweeping Grace Bible, 30-16, 30-7, 30-13

Junior Anna Herdeck Freshman Jess Buller

Grand Rapids, MI — A long bus ride and a slow start couldn’t put much of a damper on Goshen head coach Jewel Lehman’s first match as leader of the Leafs’ program, as Goshen defeated Grace Bible College 30-16, 30-7, 30-13 Tuesday night in Grand Rapids.

Grace Bible played even with Goshen (1-0, 0-0) at the outset, grabbing a 3-3 tie in game one before freshman Jessica Buller came alive in the serving area, blasting out three jump serve aces to ignite Goshen’s charge. Following that effort, the Leafs coasted in games two and three, never allowing the Tigers much of a chance to compete.

“We started out a little slow but Jess really picked us up with her serving,” Lehman said. “We dominated the second and third games, serving and passing well. Our defensive play was strong tonight, and we were able to pick up a lot of their hits.”

For the night, Buller led the team with seven service aces, while junior Anna Herdeck led offensive charge with a team-high 10 kills. Senior Mindy DeVito was a constant in the middle, chalking up eight digs and four kills, while freshman Carly Feldman supplied six kills and two solo and two assist blocks. Sophomore Jean Boen ran the offense with relative ease, placing 17 assists.

“We are working out key aspects of our offense and this was a good game to practice some of our play sets,” Lehman said. “Overall, I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made in the pre-season and I am excited that we were able to get off to a good start.”

Goshen will get a stiff test this weekend, when the team travels to the always competitive Earlham Invitational. The team will open with a match against Bluffton College on Friday. Match time is set for 2 p.m.

MAY 5 — Lehman Named Leader Of Volleyball Program
Former NCAA Division I head coach to bring experience, talent to Goshen College

Jewel Lehman

Goshen, IN — The Goshen College athletic department announced Wednesday that former Campbell University (NCAA Div. I) head coach Jewel Lehman will take over the Leafs’ volleyball program this fall, filling a void left by three-year coach Kent Nafziger who resigned in March due to personal reasons. Lehman becomes Goshen’s ninth head coach in the sport’s 34-year history at the institution and inherits a team that won 47 games over the last two years, equaling the most successful back-to-back seasons in program history.

“We are very happy to have Jewel Lehman join our athletic department in this role,” said Ken Pletcher, Goshen College athletic director. “She can do so many, many things for us and we’re very excited about the opportunity to have her here in this capacity.”

Lehman brings with her a long list of coaching credentials, highlighted by her four-year stint as head coach of the Division I Fighting Camels, a position she held from 1994-1998. Responsible for all aspects of the volleyball program, Lehman led her Campbell team to a school-record 32-7 finish in the 1997 season, losing to Georgia State University in the fifth game of the Trans-American Athletic Conference tournament finals. In that season, Campbell recorded season records for most wins (32), most consecutive wins (16), most home wins (12), most road wins (16), highest home attendance for a game (916) and the highest winning percentage for a season (.821). Prior to her stint at Campbell, Lehman was an assistant coach at NCAA Division I James Madison University for one season.

“I am energized by the thought of taking over the program at Goshen College,” Lehman said. “I look forward to coaching a high level of volleyball and I feel that within this level, Goshen College embraces a balanced perspective which fosters the development of the athlete as a whole person. I have a great deal of respect for Goshen College and the people in the community, and I’m very excited to be joining that group.”

Lehman has spent the last four years in a physical education teaching role at Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was the school’s physical education-teacher education program coordinator for the past three years, and will join Goshen College as a professor in the school’s Teacher Education Department in conjunction with her coaching duties.

“We could not have attracted her here if it had not been for the connection with the education department,” Pletcher said. “We’re very happy about putting that package together and having her here on campus.”

While it has been six years since Lehman has coached at the collegiate level — she served as a volunteer head coach of the USA Volleyball Junior Olympic Piedmont Volleyball Club in the 2002-2003 season — she said that her desire to return to coaching was a strong factor in accepting the Goshen position.

“I am intrigued and challenged by this unique opportunity to participate in the community as a faculty member in the Teacher Education Department and as a head coach,” she said. “I am a teacher at heart and I have a deep desire to interact with and learn with young people who aspire to be teachers. During my interview, I was highly impressed with members of Goshen’s Teacher Education Department, and I feel privileged to have them as colleagues.”

Lehman does have connections to the area, as she taught and coached at nearby Bethany Christian High School from 1988-1992 following her 1987 graduation from Eastern Mennonite University. A standout volleyball player at EMU, Lehman came to Bethany to teach physical education and health, and returned to the classroom to pursue her master’s degree at James Madison in 1992. Following her stint at Campbell, Lehman completed her doctorate in exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 2003.

Though Lehman will not move to Goshen until June, she has been benefited by the work of Goshen assistant coach Val Hershberger — a former teammate of Lehman’s at EMU. Hershberger (along with assistant Alyssa Beck) have directed all phases of the Leaf volleyball program since the departure of Nafziger, and have signed three recruits this spring with others still in the process.

“I know Val well from our playing days at EMU together, and although we haven’t lived in the same area for a long time, we have maintained a friendship over the years,” Lehman said. “I value the opportunity to work with her and will rely heavily on her as the head assistant coach of the volleyball team. She’s done a tremendous job thus far, and I’m excited about the possibilities for this season. I found our returning players to be very dedicated, ready to learn and willing to work hard to achieve a high level of success this coming fall. When I visited, I was impressed with our players’ willingness to talk with me about some important issues, their concern for the future of the program and their interest in me as a person.”

Originally from Harrisonburg, Virginia, Lehman was an all-conference selection in each of her four years playing at EMU. She was the conference player of the year in each of her final three seasons, while also earning recognition as a regional All-American in 1986. She still holds the EMU record for most service aces in a season (92) and had her number 2 retired at the end of her playing career.

Check back to this website for the most up-to-date recruiting information and team news throughout the spring signing period and the summer months.

APR. 26 — Herschberger To Bring Vast Skills To Leafs
Multi-talented player stays close to home in continuing volleyball career

Mandy Herschberger

Goshen, IN — Continuing to strengthen its team through solid recruiting efforts this spring, the Goshen College volleyball program announced the signing of Fairfield senior Mandy Herschberger on Monday, giving the Leafs yet another multi-talented prospect for the 2004 season. Herschberger joins Bethany Christian High School senior Jessica Buller and Triton High School senior Carly Feldman in the Leafs’ 2004 recruiting class to date.

“Mandy Herschberger is a very talented student-athlete,” said Val Hershberger, Goshen assistant coach. “She will bring a strong academic background to the classroom and will bring a tough work ethic to the volleyball court. She has a low error style of play and is very skilled in every aspect of the game. We are excited to have her join the Goshen College volleyball program this fall.”

Herschberger, a 5-5 outside hitter, brings a wealth of talent to Goshen’s program through her versatility. A two-time all-conference performer for the Falcons, Herschberger led her team in kills per game (3.08) and digs per game (2.95) during her senior season, and tallied career marks of 2.5 kills per game and 2.5 digs per game throughout her three-year varsity career. In addition to those numbers, Herschberger also came up with almost half of her team’s assists from a setting position this fall, totaling 258 of 680 total assists for her team. She finished with 694 career kills and 682 career digs as well as 2.86 assists per game over her career, and was voted MVP by her teammates for the past two seasons. Herschberger was named to honorable mention all-conference honors following her sophomore season as well.

“She can fill in any spot that Goshen needs her to,” said Fairfield head volleyball coach and mother Carla Herschberger. “She was the best passer on our team and brought a total game to our team — she’s not just a specialist. And, she may be short, but she can hit the ball.”

Herschberger said she plans to major in secondary education once at Goshen, with an emphasis in history. She said she also looks forward to building on Goshen’s recent success, just as she did in leading her high school squad to a 20-12 mark (with a 9-2 conference record) as a senior in high school.

“The volleyball program at Goshen is really strong, and they have a great education program,” Herschberger said of her college decision. “Everyone is very nice and welcoming here. The girls on the team are really nice and fun to be around, and I just felt comfortable here.”

Herschberger joins a program coming off a 24-13 2003 season, the second-most wins in school history. With the recent resignation of former head coach Kent Nafziger, the Goshen athletic department said it plans to announce its new coach this week. Check back to this website for the most up-to-date coaching information and team news.

APR. 20 — Goshen Picks Up Pair Of Two-Sport Standouts
Buller and Feldman to bring talents to Leafs' basketball, volleyball programs

Jessica Buller

Goshen, IN — Combining its recruiting efforts to land a pair of top-notch athletes, the Goshen College women’s basketball and volleyball programs announced the signings of Bethany Christian High School senior Jessica Buller and Triton High School (Bourbon, Ind.) senior Carly Feldman Tuesday, further improving already strong programs. The 5-9 Buller and 5-11 Feldman bring versatility to both sports, as both athletes hope to make immediate contributions during both the volleyball and basketball seasons.

“It’s not often that you can find an athlete with skills good enough to play two sports at the college level,” said Steve Wiktorowski, Goshen women’s basketball coach. “Incredibly, we think we’ve found two young ladies that can play both basketball and volleyball at a very high level.”

Buller elected to stay close to home after finishing as Bethany’s career leader in kills (548) as an outside hitter in volleyball and the second leading scorer in basketball with 763 career points. She also concluded her roundball career with 372 rebounds and 242 assists, while knocking in 119 three-pointers — tops in school history.

Multi-talented: Triton High School senior Carly Feldman signs her letter of intent to attend and play basketball and volleyball for Goshen College as parents Deb and Carl Feldman sit by her side. Standing (from left to right) are Triton basketball coach Mark Heeter, Goshen women’s basketball coach Steve Wiktorowski, Goshen volleyball assistant coach Val Hershberger and Triton volleyball coach Gayle Perry.

Staying close: Bethany Christian senior Jessica Buller signed her letter of intent to attend and play basketball and volleyball for Goshen College next year. With her at the signing are parents Jim and Jane Buller, Goshen College assistant volleyball coach Val Hershberger and Goshen head basketball coach Steve Wiktorowski.

“Jess is a versatile player who will help strengthen us at several positions,” Wiktorowski said. “She has the shooting and ball handling skills to play on the perimeter, yet has the size and strength to play some inside. Being the daughter of a coach, she has a great feel for the game and sees the floor very well.”

Buller was voted Most Valuable Player by her volleyball teammates for the past two seasons, and finished with 429 career assists to go with her career-leading kill total.

“Jess is a strong outside hitter and has very strong serving skills,” said Val Hershberger, Goshen assistant volleyball coach. “She’s a great addition to the Goshen volleyball program and will bring strengths to the classroom as well as the court. She will work very hard and will push others on the team next fall.”

Feldman comes to Goshen after a stellar two-sport career at Triton, leading her volleyball team to two IHSAA state finals appearances as a sophomore and junior while being named to second team All-State status following her senior season. In three seasons as a varsity starter for the Trojans, Feldman helped her team to a combined 77-33 record while averaging 6.9 kills per game and 2.6 blocks per game from her middle blocker position as a senior.

“Carly is a great player, but even more importantly is a great person,” said Gayle Perry, Triton head volleyball coach. “She has a great attitude and will succeed in many areas at Goshen College.”

Feldman brings a wealth of talent to the Leafs’ basketball program as well, averaging 12.8 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Feldman leaves Triton as the school’s seventh-best career rebounder (513 total boards) and collected a ridiculous 21 caroms against South Newton High School in February of this season. Her 300 rebounds as a senior was the second-most in single-season history for the school, and placed her as the fifth-best rebounder in the state of Indiana.

“We think we landed somewhat of a sleeper in Carly Feldman,” Wiktorowski said. “She really impressed us in her workout with her ability and might be the most athletic player we have signed this year. We had a real need to improve our rebounding, and Carly gives us someone who possesses that skill. We feel that with her athletic potential she will become someone who improves tremendously and makes a strong contribution over the next four years.”

In addition to the duo’s athletic ability, both are standout students as well — Buller said she plans to pursue secondary education along with biblical studies, while Feldman will major in math education. Buller joins her older brother, Jordan, in the Goshen athletic family, as the current sophomore is a standout point guard for the men’s basketball program.

“A big draw for me was that I could play two sports at Goshen, as well as feeling that the school would challenge me spiritually, athletically and educationally,” Buller said. “Jordi has proven that you can be away from home a mile down the road, and I felt very comfortable here. Both programs are going through exciting times, and the chemistry and players on both teams are really great. I think this school will challenge me like I’ve never been, and it will make me a better person because of it.”

Feldman said she chose Goshen for many of the same reasons, but mostly because it just felt right.

“The main reason I decided to attend Goshen College was the faith that I experienced on my visit,” Feldman said. “With all of the college visits that I had taken, Goshen was the only place that I felt was very strong in their beliefs and tried to maintain a good Christian campus basis. I have had great success with academics in high school, and I plan to work just as hard in college. I was impressed with the facilities and people I met at Goshen, and am really excited to continue my education there.”

The tandem joins LaVille High School senior Kelsy McKee and Pendleton Heights High School senior Sarah Arnold in the women’s basketball recruiting class, and are the first signees of the year for the Leafs’ volleyball program. Wiktorowski’s team concluded the 2003-2004 season with an overall record of 26-9 and the program’s first ever berth in the NAIA National Tournament, while the Goshen volleyball team finished 2003 with a 24-13 mark, the second-best finish in school history.

“With Jess and Carly, we get two outstanding young women who will continue to improve both our programs and our campus with their being here,” Wiktorowski said. “Jessica is a great student who brings leadership potential and will naturally add to our team chemistry. Carly has a very outgoing personality and is very team oriented which will make it easy for her to fit in well with her new teammates. We think that both these individuals will have a very positive impact on both the women’s basketball and volleyball programs here at Goshen College.”

Check back to this website for the most up to date recruiting information and team news.