Watson’s Wonderful Night Powers Trojans to Sweep of Goshen

UPLAND, Ind. – Shaye Watson delivered a career night helping No. 21 Taylor to a sweep of Goshen (6-17, 1-9 CL) inside Odle Arena on Wednesday night.

Watson slammed home 11 kills in 15 swings without an error for a spectacular 0.733 hitting percentage. The sophomore right side hitter added a solo block and a dig with her career 11 kills, the first time she reached double-digits at TU.

Daya Vestal continued her historic season with nine kills on 13 attempts, while hitting .538. Lindsay Springer added 19 assists and five digs in the two-setter system, and McKaylah Flagle dug 15 balls and had five assists and three service aces in another terrific display.

Taylor fell behind early in the opening set, forcing a timeout by Head Coach Erin Luthy, trailing 11-6 because of seven hitting errors.

The response was emphatic with an 8-2 run to take the lead behind a trio of blocks and a service ace by Selah Kolpien.

After trading points with the score knotted at 15, Ellie Frey delivered a kill before adding a trio of service aces as TU finished off Goshen 25-17. Frey ended the night with eight kills, 10 digs, and four service aces.

It was all Trojans in the second set, racing out to a 7-3 lead before Flagle stepped to the service line. The senior libero would not leave the spot for the rest of the set as TU scored the next 18 points for a 25-3 set victory.

Flagle had two aces, and the defense held the Maple Leafs without a kill and a -.280 hitting percentage in the set. Watson was unstoppable with seven kills, while Vestal added three kills and a solo block in the set.

The third set was close until Reagan Kleiman, Vestal, and Watson hammered down a trio of kills to ignite a 6-0 run to gain a 13-6 advantage.

Goshen slowed the Trojans momentarily, before TU rattled off eight consecutive points behind five kills from the duo of Kleiman and Vestal for a 21-7 lead.

A quick match was ended with three kills as the fans headed home after just over an hour of action. The TU offense turned things around after seven errors in the first 17 points. Taylor had just six errors the rest of the way with 36 kills for an impressive .302 hitting percentage.

Taylor (15-7, 6-4 CL) returns to Odle Arena to finish a three-game homestand against No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene (8-2 CL) on Saturday, October 11, beginning at 3:00 pm.