It was a good end to a great season. The Beaver Area girls volleyball team may have lost in the first round of playoffs, but they didn’t go down without a fight. Through the coaching changes, losing starting players, and running a new offense, the girls still considered it a successful season

“It was a good all around season, but I’m upset it ended how it did, admitted Eden McElhaney. “I will miss all my seniors. They have been the most supportive teammates and I’m sad it was their last high school season.”

The girls lost to Derry Area at Armstrong for the first round of WPIAL playoffs.

“It was fun; everyone played really well,” said Jazlyn Yanssens.

Even the girls who didn’t play were constantly supporting the varsity players and keeping the energy up on the court.

Overall, the girls ended with a 10-3 in season record only losing to Neshannock twice and splitting with Ellwood. The season was a rollercoaster from the tough first home game loss to beating Ellwood.

“We had a target on our backs [because of last season’s success] and all the other teams didn’t think we could go anywhere. Sadly, this year we couldn’t pull through, but I think next year with how young we all our and how much talent we have, we could definitely take back the title.” McElhaney said.

The starting team had two freshman, four sophomores, two juniors, and one senior. The team is young and obviously talented because they made it to playoffs, so in coming years the team should be good.

However, coach Tyler Szmanski may not be returning next season, but no matter what the coaching situation is the girls plan to keep working their hardest in and out of practice and make it back to the championship game.

“I think we could have done better, but I wasn’t disappointed with the girls. Hey, it’s team play—there are always things we could have done better, myself included,” reflected the ‘Cats’ starting senior Natalie Antoline.