Elgin, IL — Minutes into the
Goshen College women’s volleyball trip to the west side
of Chicago for this weekend’s Judson College Invitational,
Goshen head coach Jewel Lehman took in the last possible sight
she wanted to see.
In the first game of the event’s first match against the
host Lady Eagles, senior Anna Herdeck slammed into the volleyball
standard while chasing an errant ball, coming down awkwardly on
her right ankle.
With seven available players making the trip, Lehman appeared to
not only be down to the bare minimum roster, but without her leading
dig-getter and second-leading attacker for the six-team, two-day
invitational.
“It was a scary way to start the weekend,” Lehman said. “Anna
crashed into the standard and we had to help her off the court.
It shook us up a bit.”
Fortunately, Herdeck was diagnosed with only a mild sprain, and
was released to play by the third game against Judson. Her return
helped the team to a dominating 30-28, 31-29, 30-17 win over Houghton
College on Saturday morning, but could not propel the Leafs past
Ohio Dominican College Saturday afternoon (a 24-30, 32-30, 18-30,
13-30 loss). Her absence from Goshen’s initial match with
Judson was the most noticed, as the team could not regroup in a
13-30, 17-30, 24-30 defeat.
“Friday night, we couldn’t keep Anna’s injury
from affecting our play,” Lehman said. “Although I
understand the effect this type of incident has on the team, I
was disappointed
that we were not able to rise above the distraction to play a more
solid match. Statistically, we played as poorly as I’ve seen
since the early weeks of the season.”
Following Herdeck’s accident, Goshen provided little resistance
to the host Lady Eagles. As a team, the Leafs hit .000 percent
while generating just two blocks. Sophomore Carly Feldman led the
team with nine kills on a .167 attack percentage. Sophomore Christina
Leichty was the team’s leader in digs, with just eight.
It was the third time of the season that Lehman was forced to play
with an irregular lineup, as sophomore Stephanie Kennell suffered
a severe ankle sprain in the Tri-State Invitational on Sept. 3
(click here for article) while classmate Jess Buller’s foot
injury kept her out of the Taylor University match on Sept. 27
(click here for article). Taped and treated, however, Herdeck made
a triumphant return Saturday morning, helping to lead the Leafs
to a sweeping win over Houghton, surprising even Lehman in the
process.
“Saturday morning found a completely different Goshen College
volleyball team on the court,” Lehman said. “We played
one of the best matches I’ve seen this season. It was a stark
contrast to the evening before.”
The stats reflected such a change, as the Leafs were able to attack
at a .279 clip, notch 51 kills and dig 59 balls, all while receiving
serves at a 91 percent rate. After slipping by the Highlanders
in the first and second games, Goshen turned it on it the third,
winning 30-17 in a dramatic statement game.
“We stayed with Houghton, matching point for point throughout
most of the first game,” Lehman said. “We were able
to finish with a close win. In the second game, we had to fight
for every
point. Houghton was at game point 28-29, but we successfully defended
this play and were able to put together two strong offensive plays
for the 31-29 win.”
Herdeck was at the center of the team’s inspired play, finishing
with a team-high 15 kills and 20 digs, all with a swollen ankle.
Feldman notched 14 kills and had part in four blocks, while freshman
Betsy Freeman came to life at the net with 11 kills. Buller provided
44 assists on 119 sets, adding a pair of service aces as well.
Kennell knocked in seven kills and scooped 11 digs.
Lehman found Herdeck’s performance especially astounding,
given both the ankle injury and the fact that she attacked at a
.452 rate, her second highest clip of the season and over .250
above her season average.
“Anna came back with determination and resolve to have one
of her best matches,” Lehman said. “Carly contributed
another strong match, and Stephanie had her best attacking performance
since her return from her ankle sprain earlier in the season. Betsy
Freeman had one of her best matches of the year and Christina Leichty
and (freshman) Caitlin Helmuth also turned in strong efforts. In
all, it was a very good match for every one of our players.”
Goshen continued its collective surge against Ohio Dominican, but
the Panthers were simply too much up front. After a pair of games
that sea-sawed back and forth, the Leafs simply ran out of gas
late, allowing Dominican’s size and strength to take over.
“There were many long rallies in the first two games of this
match and I think we were just getting tired toward the end,” Lehman
said. “Not having people to sub in really begins to show
at the end of an intense tournament like this. (Ohio Dominican)
had some powerful hitters and they were very relentless on defense
as well. We struggled a bit more with attacking in this match,
but we were able to play with them early.”
Feldman led that charge in a major way, supplying a team-leading
18 kills on a .239 attack percentage to go with two solo and two
assist blocks. Herdeck again played inspired volleyball, charting
14 kills to go with a team-high 20 digs, serving perfectly in 12
attempts with an ace and charting a .926 serve-receive percentage.
Buller recorded six kills to go with 33 assists on 159 sets, while
Kennell blasted six kills as well to go with 10 digs and five total
blocks. Helmuth came up with 13 digs, while Leichty scooped 12.
“Carly was gutting it out to the end and she continued to
play with intensity throughout, putting forth a tremendous amount
of energy
at the net,” Lehman said. “Steph had a tremendous blocking
match and Jess played well in all areas.”
Bethel College won
the Judson Invitational, defeating the host Lady Eagles in the
championship match for the crown. For a look at complete tournament
results, click here.
Goshen will take a day to rest, then return to the practice facility
before hooking up with Taylor University-Fort Wayne Tuesday night
on the road. Goshen dropped a 24-30, 30-21, 32-30, 29-31, 11-15
decision to the Lady Falcons in the first game of the Maple Leaf
Invitational on Sept. 16. Match time for the second round is set
for 7 p.m.
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  Senior
Anna Herdeck
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