By Sean Holohan

The Goshen volleyball team will compete in the AHSAA Elite Eight volleyball championship tournament Wednesday in Birmingham at the Birmingham Crossplex with first round action set to start at 8 a.m.

After a successful weekend run in the South Super Regional that saw Goshen go 3-1 in the tournament including a consolation round victory over Mobile Christian, the Eagles have secured the No. 3 seed in Birmingham and are set to face No. 6 seed Hatton in the first round.

After defeating Houston Academy in the first round of the Super Regional Friday, the Eagles went on play three more matches on Saturday.

Goshen defeated New Brockton in their first match of the day Saturday, winning three sets to one (25-16,23-25,25-18, 25-9).  Lead hitters Kati Thomas and Casey Allen combined for 54 kills in the match, as the Eagles clinched their spot in the state tournament with the victory.

In the Eagles’ second match of the day, they were swept three sets to none against eventual regional runner-up St. Luke’s Episcopal (25-19, 25-7, 25-17).

Goshen’s leading hitters managed just 22 kills in the game, as the Eagles lost to the Wildcats who earned the No. 2 seed in Birmingham.

In Goshen’s final match of the day, a consolation game against Mobile Christian to determine the No. 3 seed in Birmingham, the Eagles won three sets to one. After losing the first set 25-21, the Eagles stormed back, winning the next three sets 26-24, 25-19 and 25-15. Kati Thomas had her biggest game of the tournament, tallying 35 kills and 10 blocks. Senior Fran Warrick lead the team defensively with 23 digs.

Goshen head coach Amy Warrick is confident that the Eagles’ momentum from regionals will carry over into the state tournament.

“We feel really good going into state and we feel good about our chances,” Warrick said. “We are playing good volleyball right now. Really good team volleyball.”

The Eagles will face Hatton in the first round Wednesday in the single-elimination tournament, with the championship being played at 9 a.m. Thursday.