For the second straight season the Goshen Eagles volleyball team will participate in the Class 2A state volleyball tournament in Birmingham starting Wednesday afternoon.

After the Eagles swept Sampson to begin the regional tournament. The Eagles then turned around and swept Sweet Water 25-18, 25-18, 25-22 to qualify them for one of the eight spots in Birmingham.

From day one of summer practice the number one goal of the Eagles was to make it back to the state tournament.

“I am excited for these seniors, that was their goal,” said Eagles head coach Amy Warrick. “I was thrilled for us to reach that goal. I told them today that I think they are ready. If they can come out an play our best game and play error free volleyball than I think we can play with anybody.”

The Eagles entered the state tournament a year ago in awe of the moment. The players were happy to have made it to where they had gotten. This year the goal is to make it to the final four.

“We want to get to the final four,” Warrick said. “We just want to take it one game at a time. We want to do more than we did last year so we are going at it with a different attitude. We were so excited to just be there last year, this year we just want to get passed the first game.”

This season, knowing the goals of her team Warrick scheduled her teams to play numerous opponents from a higher class. The Eagles all season long played teams from as high up as 7A to prepare them for this moment.

“It has already helped us,” Warrick said. “They are not scared anymore. You can look at them and tell that the team’s they used to be scared of playing, they are just not scared anymore. It did what I wanted it to. Its just now we have to be able to apply it and be able to finish at the right time and not back down.”

After defeating Sweet Water, the Eagles fell to Saint Luke’s. The Eagles turned around and defeated familiar foe New Brockton in five sets to give them the third seed heading into Birmingham.

The Eagles will have the benefit of familiarity in Birmingham. Also heading into the state tournament will be New Brockton, Providence, Saint Luke’s, all of have which the Eagles have seen this season.

The jump up to the state level also brings another talent level as well. In both the area and regional tournament the Eagles were able to win fairly easily against some teams. The state tournament brings tougher opponents from the very first match.

“In regionals you can still run into some mediocre teams, where you can press hard on and kind of dominate,” Warrick said. “At state everybody is good. It’s going to take your best game. You are looking at the best of the best and everybody you play your going to have to play your best game.”

The Eagles will face Falkville in round one on Wednesday at 11 a.m. on court nine in Birmingham.