MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Crossroads League volleyball season didn't get off on the positive start that the Goshen College Maple Leafs hoped it would Friday night, as Bethel College emerged victorious in straight sets from the teams' first meeting of the year at Goodman Gymnasium in Mishawaka.

For a moment, it looked like a fast start was indeed in the cards as the Maple Leafs won seven of the match's first eight points. But the host Pilots made a protracted run, winning more than two points for each Goshen score in the rest of the first set, and carried that momentum through to the rest of the match in a 25-18, 25-17, 25-19 decision.

Whitney Peterson and Hallie Vanitvelt, both playing their first conference match, led Goshen (5-2, 0-1 CL) with seven kills apiece, followed by senior Katy Anspach with five. But the Maple Leafs struggled to control their attacks at the net: through two stanzas, the visitors had nearly as many errors as winners.

Veronica Dabrowski of Bethel (3-2, 1-0) led all players with 10 kills. On the night when they retired the jersey of the player with the most digs in school history, three Pilots accumulated 13 or more digs, paced by Kristen Mitchell with 14.

The loss snapped a five-match winning streak for Goshen and was only the second contest of the year to go just three sets.

After starting the season five days earlier than any other conference school, the Maple Leafs now step out of conference play until traveling to Marian on Friday, Sept. 4. Before that match, however, Goshen returns to the court Tuesday night in Gunden Gymnasium against Anderson University. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

More, including comments from Goshen coach Jim Routhier, to come when available.