ADRIAN, Mich. - The Maple Leafs men's volleyball team lost their season opener in three sets against Siena Heights on Friday evening at the SHU Fieldhouse.
Ishmail Bangura led the Leafs with ten kills in what was also the team's Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opener.
The Saints took a 4-1 lead early in the first set and maintained their advantage, usually around three or four points, for the entire set. They scored six of the last eight points to win 25-18.
The second set was back and forth - the teams had already been tied eight times when the score was just 11-11. But a Goshen attack error and kills from Marc Arsenault and Zak Tucker resulted in three straight points for the Saints, and they held that lead. After it was 18-15, SHU went on a 6-1 scoring run to win 25-16.
There were 12 ties in the third and the Leafs looked strong as they looked to force a fourth set. The teams were tied at 18 when Siena Heights scored five straight points to go up 23-18. Goshen fought back by scoring five of the next six, including three straight after the home team was at match point. Bangura had two kills during the stretch and
Leo Minetto and
Christian Rodriguez each had one, assisted from
Wyatt Bollinger. Down by one, a GC service error ended the match, and Siena Heights won the third set 25-23.
Goshen improved as the match went on. They had a .048 hitting percentage in the first set but it was up to .304 in the third. They had seven kills and six errors in the first set, but ten kills and three errors in the third. The Saints had a .643 hitting percentage in the second set and were at .383 for the match.
Bangura led all players on the court with ten kills. He had seven attack errors and a .125 hitting percentage.
Christian Rodriguez had eight kills and two errors, with a .400 hitting percentage.
Wyatt Bollinger made 20 assists.
Juan Llama had six kills and a .357 hitting percentage but also five service errors.
This was the first match for Goshen interim head coach Jewel Lehman and Siena Hieght head coach Tim Ebbecke.
The Maple Leafs are in Michigan again on Saturday, January 28 to face Lawrence Tech at 7:00 pm.
