GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A run to extend the third set came up two points short Saturday afternoon as Goshen College lost a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference men's volleyball match to Aquinas College 25-18, 25-19, 25-23 at the Sturrus Center.

Alexander Rabadzhiev finished with 15 kills for the Maple Leafs, who also got 4 winners from Elias Baer and 3 each from Ian Fox, Lucas Sauder and Andy Bennett.

Baer, Rabadzhiev, Christian Rodriguez and Nick Yutzy each finished with 6 digs; Fox, Rabadzhiev and Bennett all recorded a pair of blocks. Michael Wahl led the team with 24 digs.

Aquinas, the ninth-ranked team in last week's NAIA coaches poll, got 9 kills from Will Donald and 8 from Zane Moothart to move to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Donald and Robert Valerio had 5 blocks each and Moothart recorded 3 aces, singlehandedly topping Goshen's team total of 2.

The Saints got at least 3 kills from each starter except setter Colby Elder, who had 29 assists and a team-high 5 digs. Aquinas also finished with 12 blocks to Goshen's 5.

Aquinas raced to an early lead in the first stanza, picking up an 8-1 lead and never trailing. The second set was tighter, with the teams splitting the first 10 points before a 7-2 Saint run earned them a 5-point lead. GC got back within 2 points twice, both on Saint errors, before Aquinas won seven of the last 10 rallies for a 2-0 lead.

Goshen (1-2, 1-1) picked up a quick 4-1 lead in the third set, which came back to a tie at every opportunity between 7 and 10 points each. Two Aquinas blocks put them in front and a 9-1 run extended the lead to 22-13.

The Maple Leafs reeled off eight straight points with their backs against the wall, saving eight consecutive match points including four Rabadzhiev kills and an ace. Aquinas won the set and the match on the last chance before extra points when Valerio and Moothart combined for the block.

Goshen steps out of WHAC competition for a quick turnaround to a home match Monday night. Lincoln College, another second-year NAIA program, is the opponent visiting Gunden Gymnasium for a first serve at 7 p.m.