Andrew Kurland is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned  to cover Barry Goldwater High School for AZPreps365.com

Every year, Barry Goldwater volleyball coach Tamara Beck has at least one senior who moves on to play college volleyball. As this season started to wind down, it appeared that streak would be broken. Until she got a surprise.

The surprise came from senior leader Alexandria Engelmeyer ahead of the highly anticipated Senior Night game. Engelmeyer committed to a school only a few days before the game, and she wanted to surprise her coach of four years.

“I wanted to see her reaction when I told her,'' Engelmeyer said. "I didn’t find out too long before that night that I would be attending there. I wanted it to be official before I told her. The timing worked out perfectly.”

Next fall Engelmeyer will attend Delaware Valley University, located in Doylestown Pa. And for her, Beck’s reaction was worth the wait.

“She looked at me and my parents and almost started crying,'' Engelmeyer said. "She said she was proud, and I’ve definitely enjoyed being on her team the last four years.”

This year five seniors say goodbye to the team. This group is special for Beck. Three of the five leaving the team played with Beck beyond their four years at Barry Goldwater. Before joining the high school roster, many played for Beck at Ultimate Volleyball Club, an organization Beck founded.

“These are the last of my girls that I coached in club and it’s been a crazy year for them,” Beck said.

She added: “It’s bittersweet. It’s exciting and sad. Especially this year I’m just excited and blessed that we got to finish our season and play every single game.”

For many, the uncertainty with COVID-19 has made this season even more special. Many look to Senior Night as one of the high points of the season for that reason.

“That was one of my best senior nights,” Beck said. “What made it so special was that we got to play. Just with all this craziness going on. 

There were so many schools that didn’t get to play and have their senior night. And we got to have it.”

The night consisted of all five seniors taking the court for the majority of the game. Not all of the seniors were starters during the regular reason. However, in the eyes of Beck, the group of five “got it done,” winning in three sets.

Kaylee Doole is one of the seniors leaving this year, and was one of the five on the court for that memorable game. For Doole, the group’s effort made the night that much more special.

“Everyone was doing what they could to get that victory for the seniors,'' she said. "They weren’t playing for themselves. They were playing for the seniors and to make that night memorable for us.”

Added Engelmeyer: “You wait for that Senior Night moment. That night was just so great. Playing with my best friends for the last four years and getting to win and have so much fun that night was a great experience. It was one of the most memorable games I’ve had playing at this school.”

The Senior Night game was one of only two victories for the Bulldogs. In the end, they went 2-13, defeating Glendale High School on the road and Coronado High School at home. Despite the lack of success, the seniors still had plenty to take away from this year.

For players and coaches alike, saying goodbye was the hardest part.

“We won’t get to see each other as much,'' Engelmeyer said. "Most of us don’t have classes with each other. Not getting to see each other every day is going to be different."

Bittersweet best describes the moment. And while everyone will go their separate ways, they still plan to keep in touch with the people who made their four years at Barry Goldwater so memorable.