It took one more set than Goshen head coach Amy Warrick wanted to put away the Pike County Bulldogs but in the end the Eagles took the match 25-13, 25-11, 27-29 and 25-8.

Goshen jumped out on the visiting Bulldogs early cruising to the two set lead in the best three out of five format for the match.

“We came out in a good rhythm, and got our serves going,” said Warrick. “We are great when we play our game, and we did in it the first two sets.”

The third set was the jewel of the match. Pike County jumped out to a large lead, only to see Goshen storm back on two different occasions to tie the set at 15 points and at 21. The two teams then traded points until the Bulldogs were able to break a Goshen serve, and then get a kill to end the set 29-27.

Warrick said that she needed to calm here team down and get back to business in the fourth set.

“I felt like we made the errors, and they had the momentum headed in to the last set,” said Warrick. “We had to refocus and get back to our game of bump, set, and spike.”

The lecture worked as the Eagles never trailed in the fourth set winning the match with convincing 25-8 rout.

Warrick had nothing but good things to say for the Pike County squad after the match.

“They (PCHS) looked better than they have in several years, and will continue to get better,” said Warrick.

The Eagles were led by senior Ivia Pollard. Pollard finished the match with 9 kills and multiple digs. Warrick said that the play of Pollard and the rest of the front line will help the Eagles throughout the season.

“She (Pollard) is what holds this team together, “Warrick said. “She is great player for us no matter where she is at, front row or back row it doesn’t matter. She is just an all-around great player.”

The Eagles will travel to Ariton on Thursday, and Pike County will have a week off before traveling to Clayton next Tuesday for a match against Barbour County.