Efforts to improve the team’s energy paid off on Tuesday as the Goshen Eagles defeated Brantley in three sets

“I was impressed today,” said head coach Amy Warrick. “We had a come-to-Jesus meeting to help pick each other up. I was proud. I was prouder of the energy, because that is what we have been working on.”

The Eagles had no problem with the rival Bulldogs, defeating them 25-8, 25-19, 25-14.

“It has been a tough road,” Warrick said. “We have been traveling around. There have been moments like this where we played good, but there have been moments when we had letdowns.”

The Eagles fell to both Dothan and Rehobeth on Monday night and they didn’t have as much time as they would have liked to get ready for Brantley. “This team needs to learn how to make adjustments on the back line,” Warrick said. “They need to learn how to help each other out and communicate. The communication was better tonight.”

The Eagles controlled the first set from the open, but the Bulldogs put up more of a fight in set two. The set was tight throughout with the Bulldogs trailing by as little as three points late in the game at 21-18. The Eagles went on a 4-1 run to secure game two.

The Eagles flew out to an 18-8 lead in set three and never looked back, cruising to a 12-point win.

“We respect Brantley,” Warrick said. “Brantley is good in sports. Any time we go head-to-head with them we try to bring everything we have. We know they are going to bring everything they got.”

Lydia Harrison led the way in aces with four, while Kelsey Gibson led the way in kills with 12. Harrison also led the way in serve points with 11 and Selena Harris finished with eight.

The junior varsity Eagles also won on Tuesday. The Eagles won two out of the three sets against the Bulldogs 25-13, 20-25, 15-12. Sydney Garrett led the way with five aces.

All three squads will be back in action at 4 p.m. Thursday when they take on New Brockton.