The Goshen Lady Eagles volleyball team couldn’t quite cap off a historic season with a state championship Thursday evening, falling to St. Luke’s in straight sets.

The Eagles were swept 11-25, 12-25 and 15-25 by the defending champions, who Goshen lost to previously in straight sets during the Class 2A South Super Regionals.

Head coach Amy Warrick said the team is still “a little down” from the loss, but believes her girls will come around to be proud of what they accomplished this season.

“We reached one of our ultimate goals this season,” Warrick said. “We just came up a little short. We knew we had to play our best game to beat them and we just didn’t have that; maybe nerves got the best of us.

“But I’m proud of them reaching one of their accomplishments. This is the first time any Goshen team has ever brought home any kind of state championship trophy; to even be in the game  is a huge honor. We wish the outcome had been a little different, but we were very blessed to be there.”

Warrick said she believes the success this season could lead to a hunger to get back to Birmingham to compete for the championship again next year.

“I’m losing two seniors, both my outside hitters,” Warrick said. “But we have five juniors coming back, so we do have some key players returning. But we’ll have to work hard to reload and get back here.

“I think I have some kids that are going to play in the offseason. They see how hard you have to work to reach this level. Maybe these younger kids will work just a little bit harder to get a little bit farther – and there’s only one step farther to get.”

Two Goshen players, Kelsey Gibson and Hannah Calhoun, made the all-state tournament team. In the championship game, Gibson had 2 aces, 3 points scored, 10 kills, 5 digs and a block. Calhoun had an ace, a point scored and 19 digs.

Jada Hall scored a point and had 7 kills and 8 digs. Kate Warrick scored 3 points and had 19 assists and 8 digs.

The Eagles wrapped up the season with a 28-14 overall record.