GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Goshen had a season-high .264 hitting percentage and a season-low two reception errors in a three-set sweep over Aquinas on Saturday afternoon in Grand Rapids. The Maple Leafs have won four of the last five matches against the Saints, a team that was 7-4 before today and receiving votes in the NAIA coaches poll.
Based on the first nine points of the match, it wouldn't appear that it would be the Maple Leafs that went on to win in three sets. Aquinas started the first set up 8-1. Interim head coach Jewel Lehman called a timeout when it was 7-1, and the Leafs came back to tie it at ten apiece.
Juan Llama had two aces and a kill to bring GC back into the game. The Saints led 17-14 at one point, but the Maple Leafs ended the set on an 11-6 run to win 25-23.
Similar to the first set, it took Goshen a while to find their footing in the second set. Aquinas led 15-10, but the Maple Leafs quickly responded. GC scored seven straight to go up 17-15, with numerous blocks from
Juan Llama and
Andy Bennett. It was a part of a more extensive 11-1 scoring run and a 15-5 run to end the set. Goshen won 25-20 and had a .357 hitting percentage in the set with 15 kills.
Aquinas got off to a 5-1 lead in the third before Goshen had a 5-0 run to take an 11-8 lead. The Saints didn't back down so easily, though, as they scored five straight to go up 16-15. GC led 23-21 until the Saints scored three in a row and got to set point. But Goshen scored four of the next five, completed with an ace from
Wyatt Bollinger, to win the third set 27-25 and sweep the Saints.
Juan Llama had career-highs with four aces and five total blocks. He also added seven kills and four digs.
Ishmail Bangura had 16 kills and a .414 hitting percentage, with two aces and two block assists.
Wyatt Bollinger had 36 assists, a season-high for a three-set match.
Christian Rodriguez led the team with nine digs. Goshen had seven aces in the match, and Aquinas had two.
Goshen (3-6, 3-5 WHAC) will host Saint Xavier on Wednesday, February 22, at 7:00 pm in a nonconference match. Aquinas falls to 6-3 in the conference.
