GOSHEN, Ind. - Women's volleyball concluded their 2026 season as they welcomed the Spring Arbor University Cougars to the Ruth Gunden Gymnasium, where the Maple Leafs fell 9-25, 14-25, 25-23, 9-25.
The Cougars got out to a fast start, leading 5-1 before the Leafs got any form of scoring run. This came in the form of two unanswered kills thanks to Carmin Corey and an error from the Cougars. The Cougars continued to mount on the pressure, going on a 14-2 run, before the Leafs were able to put together a 3-0 run with a kill from Sami Lard, who was also on a block with Danika Miller. Four kills in a row then gave the Cougars the set on a score of 25-9.
Corey, along with three Spring Arbor errors gave Goshen a 4-2 run early in the second set. Three Goshen errors and a kill from Alexis Remtema then gave the Cougars a 4-0 run. From here, Carle Bruggema put together a brace of aces, which, accompanied by an error from the Cougars, tied the set at seven. This would be the final scoring run of the set for Goshen, who didn't have an answer for the Cougars, and lost the second set 14-25.
Goshen found themselves in a five point deficit to start the third set with the score at 12-7. From here, they slowly began to establish a foothold in the set, with kills from Ava Schneider, Miller, Lard, Corey. A hat-trick of kills from Railynn Bowman gave the Leafs a one point advantage with the score at 20-19. The set was tied at 21, 22, and 23, before an attack error from the Cougars and a Corey kill gave the set to Goshen.
The momentum the Leafs had in the third was halted at the start of the fourth. They trailed 10-7 before a 15-2 Cougar run gave them the set and ultimately the match.
Miller had six blocks on the night, a career high and more than doubling her career total. Lard also had five blocks, more than her season total to date before the game.Â
Before the match, Kelsie Hankins was also given with the Hannah Grieser award, which was presented by her parents, Michael and Beth. The award is given in memory of Hannah to "a player who represents hard work as a team player with a positive attitude and spreads love and compassion throughout the volleyball program."
Â
Goshen ends the season with a record of 3-29, tallying set wins in their last three straight conference matches.Â
