VOLLEYBALL

After opening up the season nearly two weeks ago with their own invitational, the HU volleyball team kicked off league play by dropping a 3-2 decision on the road to Goshen Wednesday night at Gunden Gymnasium.

With this win, the Maple Leafs claim a 6-4 record while HU’s record stands at 2-3.

Huntington brought a three-game win streak over the Maple Leafs into tonight’s match but GC finally snapped it by outlasting their visitors, 25-17, 25-19, 22-25, 25-27, 15-11, in a grueling battle that lasted nearly two and a half hours.

In the first two sets, Goshen made late runs, scoring the final eight points in set one and then outscoring HU 9-3 to end set two, before the visitors finally returned the favor. Down 22-19 in set three, Shondell’s crew reeled off six straight points to escape early elimination.

Huntington led by as many five in the fourth set before settling for the two-point win to force the rubber match. The race to 15 in the final set featured eight ties and two lead changes before the Maple Leafs claimed their fourth five-set W of the year.

“If you needed a reminder that everybody in our league can bring it, you got one tonight,” said Coach Shondell. “Goshen did a really good job of exploiting some mismatches and just being persistent.”

Elizabeth Breckbill was one of three Maple Leafs to finish with double-digit kills. The 6-2 middle hitter posted a career-high 20 kills and .512 hitting percentage to go along with 2.5 blocks to dominate play at the net.

“Any time a middle has 20 kills and hits over .500 against you, it is going to be hard to win,” Shondell said.

HU also had three players claim at least ten kills. Tailor Schultheis finished with 16 kills while two rookies, Lindsay Ingenito and Lanie McClanahan, each added ten.

“We got good performance from our pins,” noted Shondell. “Tailor was our anchor when she was on the floor and she didn’t disappoint.”

Shondell was also very complimentary of McClanahan’s play. “To have a freshman able to jump on the floor and start scoring like Lanie is a really nice thing to have.”

Jenna Tacosik posted a double double with a match-best 42 assists and 12 digs. Ariene Butler and Nicole Flickinger bolstered the backline with 14 and 11 digs respectively.

The Foresters head to Michigan this weekend to compete in the Siena Heights Labor Day Tournament where they will open up with Rochester on Friday at 4:00 p.m.