ROCHESTER HILLS, MI - The Goshen women's volleyball team ended their losing streak on Friday evening against Northwestern Ohio at the Rochester University Tri-Match. And they did it quickly. It was a three-set sweep for the Leafs over the Racers – 25-14, 25-21, 25-16. In the second match, Goshen took the host, Rochester, to five sets.
 
Northwestern Ohio was 4-0 against Goshen since 2008 and had recently beat Goshen this season. The two met during the Liz Lykowski Memorial Tournament and UNOH came out on top then – 25-16, 25-15, 31-29. The tables turned tonight, however, with Goshen winning in three sets instead of Northwestern Ohio. UNOH recently played Indiana Tech on October 20^th and took them to four sets. Indiana Tech is receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches Poll.
 
As a team, the Maple Leafs (3-28) had a .382 hitting percentage in the first set with 15 kills and just two errors. Goshen started the match with a 12-2 run and never looked back. During that stretch, Sadie Brenneman had an ace and Brielle Agnew added two of her own – a season-high for Agnew in a match.
 
The second set wasn't as dominant, but the Maple Leafs survived. Goshen started with a 9-4 run, but UNOH (6-22) scored six straight to take a 10-9 lead. Some kills by Sadie Brenneman, Amy Baca, and Maddy Beaver put Goshen back on top, but the Racers later took a 19-18 lead. That was all the motivation the Maple Leafs needed, as they finished the set with a 5-1 run and won 25-21.
 
The third set was defined by a handful of Goshen runs. The Leafs had three separate 4-0 runs and finished it off by winning the last three points. They took the set 25-16.
 
Sadie Brenneman had ten kills, and Amy Baca's seven kills tied a career-high. Brenneman and Christina Towne each racked up 14 digs and Gwyn Bellamy had ten.
 
Not too long after ending their first match, Goshen was back at it to face off against the host – Rochester University. Rochester started the match with a 5-1 lead that Goshen responded to with four straight. The Leafs built a 9-8 lead, but the Warriors scored seven straight. When the score was 19-12 in favor of the host, Goshen scored eight of the next ten points and found themselves only down by one – 20-21. However, Rochester sealed the set with four straight and won 25-20.
 
Round two was back and forth for the first half. But then Goshen had a 5-0 run which would be followed later by another 5-0 run which put them in the driver's seat, leading 22-16. Rochester (11-16) cut at the lead a little, but the Maple Leafs held on to win 25-21 and tie the match at a set apiece.
 
The third set was rough for both teams, but it was a close set. Down 10-8, Rochester scored six in a row and led by four. Goshen then took nine of the next ten points and had a 19-15 edge. Later, a kill by Naomi Willis gave the Maple Leafs a 24-22 lead and a point from the set win. Yet Rochester came storming back to win the next four points and take the set 26-24. The teams combined for 25 errors in the set with 14 coming from Rochester, but the Warriors were able to pull through.
 
Down but not out, Goshen delivered in the fourth. After losing the first point, Goshen was in control for the rest of the set and it wasn't very close. Goshen won 25-17 and had a hitting percentage of .270 compared to .021 for Rochester.
 
So it came down to the fifth and final set. The two teams found themselves tied at six before the Warriors scored three to lead 9-6. With their backs against the wall yet again, the Maple Leafs went on an 8-1 run and were at match point leading 14-10. But Rochester would conquer in the end – scoring six straight points to win the game 16-14 and to win the match in five sets. Rochester is now 6-5 at home this season.
 
Goshen had more kills, blocks, and digs than Rochester. The key statistical category was aces – where Rochester beat Goshen 17-4.  
 
A lot of players set season-best or career-best marks. Among them, Emily Lynch had career-highs with 14 kills, 16 points, and eight digs. Senior Madison Coles had a season-high with 11 kills and career-highs with 13.5 points and six digs. Sadie Brenneman's 28 digs and 14.5 points were career-highs. Christina Towne's 25 digs was a career-high. Maddie Beaver's five digs and seven blocks? Yes, career-highs, too.
 
The team looks to build on their momentum tomorrow for Senior Day. Goshen hosts Saint Xavier at 1:00 on Saturday, October 23^rd. Be sure to be there early to help us recognize our three seniors – Madison Coles, Haylee Pennington, and Naomi Willis. It's your last chance to watch this team at home this season, so be sure to be there!