Nine varsity volleyball players from Collegedale Academy boarded a plane on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, for the Union College Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska.

There, ten other teams gathered to participate, representing different Adventist academies across the country.

Throughout the three-day tournament, the team played with heart, anxious to win it all (as they had last year).

Posting a 4-2 record in the preliminary rounds, the Eagles advanced to the Saturday night Championship Tournament Bracket before losing to Mile High Academy.

With the graduation of only one senior, Ally Nash, the team returns 8 of its 9 players for the 2016 season.

“I walked away closer to my girls,” Nash said.