FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Goshen is one of six participants in the 2021 Liz Lykowski Memorial Tournament hosted by Indiana Tech. On Friday, the Maple Leafs battled hard but fell to Northwestern Ohio and Trinity Christian. The tournament is played in honor of a former Indiana Tech volleyball player who tragically lost her life from a congenital heart defect in 2008 during her senior season. Goshen will play two more matches on Saturday.
Goshen faced UNOH (5-16) in their first of four matches this weekend. The Racers had the lead the entire time in both the first and second sets, winning them 25-16 and 25-15. The third set was where things got interesting. The Maple Leafs (3-21) were battling from the start of the set. Each team took a lead of three points at least once, but one team couldn't separate itself from the other.
The Maple Leafs took a 24-24 lead and were a point away from taking the set. Then, Nevaeh Shugart had two straight kills for UNOH to give them a 25-24 lead and a point away from the win. Shugart had an attack error though and the teams were tied at 25. After taking a 26-25 lead, Goshen couldn't get the set point. However, they stopped the Racers three times as they were a point away from winning the match. But Northwestern Ohio finally sealed the deal at 30-29 with a service ace to win the set 31-29 and the match – 25-16, 25-15, 31-29. The final set saw 18 ties and eight lead changes.
Later in the day, Goshen took on the Trinity Christian Trolls. The Maple Leafs picked up where they left off with a very competitive first set. The Trolls (6-12) got off to a 13-9 lead, but Goshen won 12 of the next 17 points to take a 21-18 lead. A
Sadie Brenneman kill gave Goshen a set point at 24-22, but Trinty Christian tied it at 24.
Maddy Beaver had a kill to give Goshen another set point, but the Trolls responded again. Trinity Christian eventually took the first set 28-26.
The Maple Leafs (3-22) had a strong 7-3 lead in set two. Yet the Trolls went on a 17-5 run to take a 20-12 lead. Goshen scored the next four points while taking advantage of some attack errors, but it was too little too late as Trinty Christian won the set 25-18.
The third set went back and forth. At the point where Goshen had a 22-21 lead, there had been 13 ties and six lead changes. The Trolls ended the match with four consecutive points to tie and take the lead once again and to win the set 25-22. They took the match in three sets – 28-26, 25-18, 25-22.
Sadie Brenneman had a terrific game against UNOH. Her 13 kills led both teams and she added seven digs as well.
Jaelyn Amhdar was the Maple Leafs star against Trinity Christian. She had 22 assists and 11 digs. Her four aces were the most by anyone on the court. Her .400 hitting percentage was a season-best.
Goshen continues in the Liz Lykowski Memorial Tournament on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. against the host – Indiana Tech. Then at noon, they will wrap up the busy weekend against Judson.
