Fort Wayne, IN — As if the
final page in a book, a great defensive play by Mid-Central Conference
foe University of St. Francis — for all intents and purposes — ended
the chances of the Goshen College women’s volleyball team
Wednesday night at USF’s Hutzell Center.
After falling by a 11-30 count in the first game, Goshen (4-19,
0-7) responded with a surge in the second contest, claiming a 28-27
lead and looking like a team poised to make it an interesting evening.
St. Francis responded with an amazing dig and subsequent run down
with Goshen leading 29-28, effectively stealing the game in the
process. The Cougars went on to win the second stanza by a heartbreaking
32-30 score, and finished Goshen in three games with a 30-16 tally
in the third and final game.
For Goshen head coach Jewel Lehman, it was the single play that
turned the entire night around.
“We came out really strong in the second game and played
with them until we pulled ahead late,” Lehman said. “St.
Francis made a great defensive play to save the game and we didn’t
follow with the same intensity or execution. After we lost 32-30,
we lost all momentum as they pushed to the end.”
It appeared that there would be no momentum generated by Goshen
at the outset of the match, as St. Francis cruised to the 19-point
win in game one. Goshen hit with a horrid .080 percentage and was
never involved, falling behind early.
It was at that point that the Leafs sparked to life, attacking
at a .184 rate in the second contest and generating some true competition.
Junior Jess Buller led the way on the evening, hitting .105 and
charting a team-best 11 kills to go with 11 digs. Freshman Ashley
Janssen tallied seven kills to go with six digs, while junior Steph
Kennell had six kills on a .111 hitting clip.
Those marks weren’t enough to finish the second game, however,
and St. Francis ran away with the three-game match.
“Our serve receive was so poor in the first game, we were
not pressuring them at all and we had virtually no offense,” Lehman
said. “We
did make some very nice plays as the night went on, gaining a glimpse
of future potential. We are working hard and still have a long
way to go.”
Freshman Allison Hawkins produced 23 assists from the setter position
on the evening. Kennell provided three assist- and one solo-block
in her first match back following a brief leave from the team due
to personal circumstances. Senior Maria Rakochy finished with a
team-best three service aces. She also provided six digs.
Goshen will next compete in the Spring Arbor University Quad Match
on Saturday. The team will face Indiana Tech in the day’s
first match. Initial event time is set for 11 a.m.
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  Junior
Jess Buller
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