By Chandler Ingle
Sports Information Intern

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A career-high 20 kills from Darienne Maust came up short Wednesday as the Goshen College women's volleyball team squandered a one-set lead in a four-set loss to Saint Francis at Hutzell Athletic Center.

Goshen (12-16, 4-11 Crossroads League) jumped out to a 25-21 first-set victory, but three consecutive 25-22 frames for the Cougars halted any hope for the Maple Leafs to level the season series. 

Each team posted eerily similar stats throughout the mid-week affair as action remained fairly even throughout. Goshen seemingly won the defensive battle with a higher number of team digs and blocks, but strategic passing and sets from USF's Maria Pelak gave the Cougars the X-factor they desperately needed. Pelak led all players with 53 assists. USF totaled 58 in four sets.  

The high Cougar assist totals lent themselves to an attacking mindset: USF (9-20, 7-8) out-hit Goshen by 58 kills to 49. 

Maust led all players with her 20-kill showing. The sophomore's previous career best came last fall against Spring Arbor University when she posted 18. Maple Leaf Christy Swartzendruber was the next-closest contributor on the team with nine winners of her own while senior Meghan Gerke added eight. Cassidy Rammel was the high point winner for the Cougars with 18, four more than Anne Clark.

Each team got four blocks from two players: Swartzendruber and Lindsay McQuinn reached that milestone for GC while Clark and Megan Diagostino did so for USF.

The loss prevented Goshen from gaining ground on Mount Vernon Nazarene in the Crossroads League standings: those Cougars dropped a five-set decision to Grace but remained half a game ahead of Goshen in the race for playoff position. The Maple Leafs hold the tiebreaker over eighth-place Mount Vernon Nazarene but would lose the tiebreaker to Bethel or Huntington, the two teams tied for sixth

Goshen plays its final road match of the regular season Friday, visiting Taylor at Odle Arena in Upland at 7 p.m. The team returns home to meet Spring Arbor for senior day on Saturday.