FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Goshen rallied to take down Saint Francis in five sets on Saturday, winning 25-23, 15-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-10. This was the first time Goshen swept the season series with the Cougars since 2015, their first season series sweep of any conference opponent since 2019 as well as their first road five-set win since 2019.

Goshen has now won three of the last four matches against USF after losing the previous 15. After ending a long conference losing streak by beating the Cougars on the road last season, the Leafs beat them this year at home in five sets before doing it again today in Fort Wayne. Similarly, both matches when Goshen last swept the series in 2015 also went to five sets.

USF never had a lead in the first set until they went up 23-22. Goshen used a timeout at that point and ended a 4-0 run for the home team. The Leafs won the next three points, capped off with back-to-back kills from Addison Ross.

Goshen never had a lead in the second set. They kept it close, but Saint Francis ended the set on a 9-1 run. GC had a 20-17 lead in the third but the Cougars scored eight straight to win by five.

The Leafs didn't let it get in their heads, though. They scored the first three points in the fourth set and the teams traded the lead. They were tied at 19-19 when Goshen had a late 6-2 run to win. In the fifth, the Leafs quickly went up 3-0 and started with back-to-back aces from Sydney Stutsman. USF made it interesting and came within two at 11-9, but after a timeout, the Leafs regrouped and won four of the last five points to head back to Goshen with a win.

Sydney Stutsman tied a career-high with six aces. Carmin Corey had just set a season-high in kills on Wednesday with nine, but crushed that mark with 14 today. She finished the week with 23 kills, six errors and 55 attacks for a .309 hitting percentage. Her two blocks are a season-high for a conference match. Addison Ross had 11 kills, her most in a match since August 30. Kassidy Faler had a season-high 19 digs and Kelsie Hankins had her second double-double this week with 17 assists and ten digs. Brenna Spangler had two solo blocks and two block assists - her fourth time this season with four or more blocks.

As a team, Goshen trailed in hitting percentage, kills, assists and digs. However, they had they edge in blocks and aces. Their 11 aces are their most in a conference match since at least 2014.

Goshen is at Bethel on Wednesday, October 22, at 7:00 pm.