LIMA, Ohio - The Maple Leafs women's volleyball team picked up the first GC athletic win of the 2024-25 school year at the Racer-Yellow Jacket Classic. After being swept by the host Northwestern Ohio, the team rebounded with a sweep over Governors State, winning 25-20, 25-18, 25-18.

Goshen vs Northwestern Ohio
Goshen got progressively better as their first match against Northwestern Ohio went on. The Racers built up a 13-5 lead in the first set on the way to a 25-14 win. The Maple Leafs were quickly down 6-0 in the second set but rallied to come within one. They scored four straight to make it 16-15 in favor of UNOH, but the host scored nine of the next ten points to win 25-16.

In Goshen's most competitive set, they tied it up at seven after being down early, but then UNOH rallied off six straight points. GC had another late push near the end to get within two but lost 25-22.

Goshen's hitting percentage improved each set. Sadie Brenneman led the team with eight kills. First-year Bianca Hobson had seven kills and a .308 hitting percentage. First-year Armani Guidry-Austin got the start and posted six kills and six block assists. Kelsie Hankins had 22 assists and Alaina Wolfe totaled 18 digs.

Goshen vs Governors State
The second match was a three-set sweep as well, this time in Goshen's favor.

Against Governors State, the Leafs won each set by at least five points. Goshen started the match off with a quick 6-1 lead in the first set but the Jaguars scored ten of the next 12 points. The Maple Leafs answered with five of their own and the teams went back and forth until GC ended the set on an 8-0 run. Goshen had a narrow lead for most of the second set, which ballooned at the end when they scored the last five points. Governors State never had a lead in the third set.

Sadie Brenneman and Bianca Hobson had double-digit kills and Kassidy Faler and Alaina Wolfe had double-digit digs. Kassidy Faler had five aces and was the server for the late first and second set runs. First-year Sami Lard added four aces of her own. Kelsie Hankins had 36 assists and Brenna Spangler led the team with four block assists. The Leafs doubled the Jaguars in aces - 14-7.

Now at 1-1, the Maple Leafs conclude the Racer Yellow Jacket Classic on Saturday in Defiance, Ohio. They face Ohio Christian at 3:00 pm and Defiance at 5:30 pm.