MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Mount Vernon Nazarene improved their conference record to 11-4 on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars beat Goshen 25-7, 25-13, 25-16.

The Leafs got off to a strong start, taking the first point of the game. They were tied at two before the Cougars went on a 5-1 run, giving them a 7-3 lead. With the score at 9-5, the Cougars scored 11 unanswered, including three aces from senior Grace Pratt. That was part of a 15-1 run, which left the score at 24-6. A service error from Goshen gave the Cougars the first set.

Much like the first, the second set saw Goshen off to a strong start. They led at 5-4 before the Cougars scored five unanswered. Goshen then fought back to bring them to within a point. The Cougars then went on a run of 14-2, where the only two points for Goshen were from errors. This left the score at 24-13 before an attacking error gave the Cougars the second.

The Cougars set the tone in the third, scoring five straight points. They had another 5-0 run between 17-11 and 22-11. Goshen fought hard at the end of the set. Brenna Spangler scored with a kill and an ace to bring the score to 23-13. Carmin Corey then added a kill before the Cougars made an attacking error. Corey scored the final point of the game for Goshen before Pratt scored a kill to win the game for the Cougars. 

Alaina Wolfe led the game in digs with 12, bringing her career total to 1,199. Wolfe now sits 41 digs behind fifth place in total career digs in Maple Leaf history, with three games left this season. Brenna Spangler led the team with six kills, two aces and two blocks. Navaeh Benjamin also had two blocks. Freshmen Corey and Addison Ross both had four kills. Sydney Stutsman led the team in assists with nine, Kelsie Hankins added six and Wolfe had four.

Next up for the Maple Leafs is a trip to Huntington to take on the Foresters before taking on Marian at home on Saturday for Senior Day, where Kassidy Faler, Sydney Stutsman and Brenna Spangler will be honored for their time at Goshen.