GOSHEN, Ind. — In January, 2023, the Goshen College Men’s Volleyball team was predicted to finish ninth in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.
While GC missed out on the postseason tournament, the team finished 7th in the conference, missing out on a spot in the tournament by just one game.
The Leafs found success this season even without the talents of junior Hasan Hadzic, who missed nearly half of the year with eligibility issues.
Despite only playing in 55% of games, Hadzic impressed conference coaches and was named WHAC Newcomer of the Year.
But Hadzic wasn’t the only star player for Goshen; first-year Ishmail Bangura made an instant impact for the Leafs, leading the squad in kills with 281.
Bangura, who transferred into GC from Sierra Leone just a few short weeks before the season began, acclimated to the U.S. quickly, and earned 1st-team all-conference recognition.
Interim Head Coach Jewel Lehman praised both players for their success, and assured Globe Sports that had Hasan been eligible the entire season, the Maple Leafs would’ve been turning heads in the WHAC tournament.
While several key seniors who were with the program from since its inception graduated this year, both Bangura and Hadzic have a positive outlook on 2023-2024, and are confident in the team’s potential.
– Dante Stanton, Sports Director, Globe Media
