With a 3-0 loss last night to Spring Arbor University, the Goshen College women’s volleyball team fell to 2-29 overall. The Leafs remain winless in the Crossroads League, now bearing a 0-16 record.

The team has just two games left: a Friday night home matchup against Taylor University, and their final match of the season on Saturday at Bethel University. The team hopes to close the season with a strong showing, as they try to break their 21-game losing streak. 

Sophomore captain Sadie Brenneman shared her thoughts on the past year and all that came along with it. Brenneman is leading the team in digs this year and is second behind junior Christina Towne for total kills.

Q: Now that the season is starting to come to a close, recap the last couple of weeks for the team. What are the challenges, successes, growth or key takeaways you’ve seen?

A: We’ve had our ups and downs these last few weeks, but I believe that we are still continuing to grow every single day. We’ve been working extremely hard in practice, in the weight room, and in the classroom to be the best we can be as a team, but have struggled to put together some of the things we’ve learned to finish games. Over these last few weeks, our defense has really stepped up. We have a lot of great defenders on our team that love to get after it in the back row, which has kept us in a lot of games. On the flip side, we have struggled to convert those digs into kills at the net. 

Q: What can we expect for the next couple of games from the team? 

A: You can expect us to fight. No matter our record, I think we have it in us to give this last week our all. At this point, I think our team would like to have fun and be the best we can be for each other. 

Q: What lessons were learned from the last few games?

A: I think we’ve learned the importance of playing through adversity. Although we have a young team with less experience, we are learning young that mental toughness is critical for winning games and executing. 

Q: Is there anything else from a captain’s perspective that you think is important for staying on track and future success?

A: Trust the process. Sometimes this phrase can be overused, but I think it applies very well with our team. When times get rough, we must push harder and learn from every mistake. 

Q: What would you say your broad game plan is for the next couple of games?

A: Focus on our side and capitalize on our strengths. Often, we are the only thing that stands in the way of our own success and I think that by minimizing our errors and controlling what we can control, we will have a lot of success. In addition, we must capitalize on our strengths: our aggressive defense and the fight we bring to the court.