Winona Lake, IN — The Goshen
College women’s volleyball team’s search for its
first Mid-Central Conference win of the season was made tougher
by the absence of junior outside hitter Stephanie Kennell Wednesday
night, as Goshen dropped a 22-30, 18-30, 22-30 decision at MCC
rival Grace College.
With Kennell out — she missed the match due to a death in
the family — Goshen (4-17, 0-6) struggled early with its
new line-up, falling behind by a 10-4 count in the night’s
first game and eventually trailing 15-6. The Leafs were able to
close the first game with a mini-run (the squad pulled within a
23-16 score), but Grace closed steadily for the 22-30 win.
Game two was a continuum of the first, as Grace stormed ahead 16-4
and never looked back. Goshen would pull to a 19-10 score, but
the Lancers were too much in the 30-18 decision.
It was not until the third match that Goshen finally began to click
with its new rotations, claiming a 6-3 lead early on. Grace responded
with seven unanswered points, but again the Leafs persisted. Goshen
captured a 20-18 lead but the Lancers would score the game’s
next four points, leading 22-20 and never trailing again.
It was a case of what might have been for Goshen head coach Jewel
Lehman, as both Grace and Goshen entered the match winless in MCC
competition.
“It was a tough evening for us as we adjusted our line-up
due to Steph’s absence,” Lehman said. “(Senior)
Maria Rakochy, (freshman) Lindsey Nofziger and (freshman) Ashley
Janssen
adjusted well. Ashley moved to the middle position, Maria hit left
side and Lindsey came in on the right. We fought hard and played
back row defense well. Some of our hitters struggled and our passing
was less accurate than usual.”
Only junior Jess Buller was able to hit for a positive percentage
on the night, charting a team-best 10 kills on a .147 attack percentage.
Janssen recorded six kills (-.048 percentage) and freshman Gina
Richard added five (-.048 percentage). Defensively, Goshen was
led by Buller and Richard’s nine digs apiece; Nofziger scooped
seven and Janssen six.
“We were ahead in the middle of the third game but we could
not execute to finish with the win,” Lehman said.
Freshman Allison Hawkins recorded 18 assists on the night, charting
five digs and serving at a team-best 93 percent clip as well. Richard
and Nofziger teamed for one assist block each, the team’s
only stuff of the night. Buller accounted for half of the team’s
service aces, serving two for points.
Lehman said that it is unlikely that Kennell will be back in time
for the squad’s next contest, which occurs — ill-timely — tomorrow.
Goshen will travel to Taylor University-Fort Wayne Thursday night.
Match time is set for 7 p.m.
“It is likely that we will again be without Steph, but our
line-up should be more familiar,” Lehman said.
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  Freshman
Allison Hawkins
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