The girls of Goffstown High School volleyball have started a tradition their coach plans to continue year after year – success in the postseason.

The Grizzlies won a playoff match for the first time in school history in 2008, and they did it again in ’09, upsetting seventh-seeded Alvirne, 3-2, on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The 10th-seeded locals fell to No. 2 Londonderry, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Senior captain Jackie Borror pounded out 40 kills and 33 digs combined in the two postseason matches, while senior libero Amelia Raymond collected 68 digs, and junior setter Jill Turcotte doled out 58 assists in the playoffs.

“There was never any panic,” said head coach Matt Leonard. “There was the feel that we could do it. Even in the second round there was that same feel. When we got behind, you knew they’d keep fighting for the next point.”

Leonard received some unexpected postseason contributions. Senior captain Leana Berube exploded with her blocking and hitting skills, but Leonard also said she played surprisingly well on defense during the team’s two playoff matches. Fellow senior Renee Lefebvre peaked in the postseason as well, making it difficult for her coach to keep her off the floor in crunch time.

Freshman outside hitter Abby Cook saved the best matches of her inaugural year for last, racking up 28 kills in the final three matches. The GHS mentor also said right-side hitter Kaitlyn Johnson played a big role in the team’s success, bringing a strong competitive fire in addition to her abilities blocking at the net.

Seniors Berube, Lefebvre, Borror and Raymond depart, but Leonard is looking forward to seeing players come up from a JV team went 14-4 the last two seasons and has won at least 10 matches four straight years.

“Certainly the varsity level is where it shows the most, but we’ve had a lot of success over the last few years at other levels too,” said Leonard. “(Winning postseason matches) shows that year in and year out, hopefully, we can have a winning tradition.”