BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - For the third time in program history and just the first time on the road, the Goshen men's volleyball team completed a reverse sweep - winning the third, fourth and fifth sets of a match after losing the first two. Goshen beat Olivet Nazarene in a tight contest on Tuesday night, 22-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-23, 15-13.

GC is now 4-0 all-time against ONU. The Tigers are receiving votes in the NAIA coaches' poll and had started the season 2-1 before facing Goshen. Goshen's previous reverse sweeps were at home against Mount Vernon Nazarene on February 9, 2022 and #13 Saint Xavier on February 22, 2023.

Even though Goshen lost the first set, they showed a determination at the end that continued through the match. Down 19-24, the Leafs scored three points before finally succumbing to the Tigers by three. Three points would be the widest margin of any of the five sets.

Goshen led 23-21 in the second set and had a set point at 24-23. However, the Tigers roared back with three straight points and the momentum seemed to shift in their direction. Yet Goshen had a strong start in the third to go up 11-5. The lead slowly dwindled, and Olivet Nazarene took their first lead of the set at 22-21. Goshen won three of the next four to go up 24-23, including an ace from Ben Koop that caused ONU to take a timeout. The home team won the next point, but the Leafs got the two in a row they needed to win 26-24.

Goshen had a long 8-0 run in the fourth set which turned a three point deficit to a five point lead. They were up seven at 19-12 but nearly lost the lead for a second straight set. ONU pulled within one at 24-23, but they had a bad set to help give Goshen the win and force a fifth and final set. Goshen led 8-6 when they changed sides and the lead extended to 11-6. Olivet Nazarene came back like they had in the previous two sets, but once again their efforts were thwarted. They pulled within one on multiple occasions, but Goshen won in the end 15-13.

Jonathan Arias had 21 digs in the match after totaling 23 in his previous five matches combined. Ben Koop had 15 digs to go with 17 kills and three aces. His 15 digs were a career-high and the three aces tied a career-high. Alessandro Olgiati had a season-high 11 kills and a .450 hitting percentage with five digs. Bruno Barac had 11 kills and six digs. Avery Laforce had a career-high 45 assists.

Goshen (3-5) has their home opener next on Friday, February 7, at 7:00 pm against the defending NAIA national champion Georgetown Tigers. Georgetown is ranked #4 in the NAIA coaches' poll.