Senior leadership and surprising skills from a new player contributed to the Goshen Eagles’ success this season, said head coach Amy Warrick.

The Eagles finished in third place in Class 2A volleyball, wrapping up 38-12 season that included a trip to the final four of the state tournament last weekend.

“We played really well,” Warrick said.. “I know they were nervous but they were able to be a lot more focused this year than they were last year. We fought really hard.”

Moreover, the team worked to meet an important goal set before the season began. “We set goals early and that was there goal, to make it back to state.”

Part of the Eagle strategy in 2015 was to play tougher competition.

“We played a very hard schedule,” Warrick said. “We had tournaments every weekend; I don’t think we even took a break except for maybe one or two weekends. I thought the girls played really well, and I thought we learned a lot this year.”

The Eagles’ five seniors – Kati Thomas, Casey Allen, Lexi Ellisor, Carmen Kelly and Tessa Little – were the leaders from the very beginning of the year.

“I’m going to miss this group of seniors,” Warrick said. “The first team that I had coached they were ninth graders. Their senior leadership will be missed. They always helped the younger kids. Their work ethic is just amazing.”

One of the turning points of the season came when Warrick decided to call up Hannah Calhoun from the junior varsity team and make her the team’s libero.

“I was pleasantly surprised with how well Hannah was able to play at that level,” Warrick said. “She has only played volleyball for two years, this year being her second. I was shocked at her ability to play varsity volleyball as well as she did.”

The moved paid off in the state tournament. Calhoun finished with a total of 42 digs and four aces.

The Eagles are already planning for next season where they will have to replace the five seniors.

“We are going to work hard during the off season,” Warrick said. “It’s really going to be a rebuilding process.

I am already sketching a way to improve their vertical jump.”

The Eagles will start working out in next couple of weeks with the softball team in prepartation for next season.