Fort Wayne, IN — When the
Goshen College women’s volleyball team first faced off
against Taylor University-Fort Wayne, senior middle hitter Danielle
Haney went down with a knee injury.
Facing the Lady Falcons in a rematch on Thursday, Goshen was at
even less than full strength.
Coupled with Haney’s nagging knee injury keeping her sidlined,
the Leafs were again without junior outside hitter Stephanie Kennell,
who missed her second straight match due to a death in the family.
The resulting 22-30, 26-30, 20-30 loss to Taylor-Fort Wayne was
less than what Goshen head coach Jewel Lehman would have liked,
but given the circumstances, it was understandable.
“At times we played quite well tonight and the players were
getting used to the different lineup,” Lehman said following
the match. “Each game we had one significant lapse in communication,
however, allowing (Taylor-Fort Wayne) to string together six or
more points. Even though we played with them for the rest of the
match, we could not make up the deficit.”
Such lapses could be reasonable considering just one senior and
one junior were dressed for play Thursday, as the youthful Goshen
(4-18, 0-6) team suffered its third straight loss. The Leafs dropped
a 24-30, 29-31, 27-30 decision to the Lady Falcons on Sept. 15
in the Maple Leaf Invitational (click here for
article), but could not better that result with Haney and Kennell
unavailable.
“Our youth shows at times as we have to think about what
to do and therefore end up being late (on the play),” Lehman
said.
Junior Jess Buller paced the Leafs’ offense in the defeat,
charting a team-leading eight kills to go with 11 digs. Senior
Maria Rakochy tallied a team-best 14 digs, while freshman Gina
Richard scooped 10.
Richard also posted six kills, equaling freshman
Ashley Janssen’s total attacks for points.
Freshman Allison Hawkins ran the offense for the team from the
setter position, garnering 23 assists in the three-game set. Janssen
led the team with one solo and one assist block. Buller finished
with three service aces as well.
“We are gaining valuable experience and I trust that the
hard work and positive attitude will pay off eventually,” Lehman
said. “Each
match we play is an investment as our young players are getting
some valuable match experience.”
Goshen will take the weekend off before returning to Mid-Central
Conference play next Wednesday. The team will then travel to the
University of St. Francis for a 7 p.m. match. Kennell is expected
to be in the lineup for that league event.
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  Junior
Stephanie Kennell
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