ST. JOSEPH — Edwardsburg volleyball coach Sarah Benjamin notified athletic director Kevin Dean on Monday that this would be her last season as varsity coach.
Benjamin told her players before Tuesday’s opening round Class B district match against Lakeshore that this would be her last year leading the program.
After getting the news, the Eddies struggled and fell to the Lancers, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20.
“It’s just time,” said Benjamin about why she’s leaving the program. “Not done coaching, hopefully, but I’m done with Edwardsburg. I’m moving forward.”
Benjamin, whose team finished with a record of 16-27-5, was asked to sum up her emotions after the loss to Lakeshore.
“It’s hard because it’s the last time I’ll be wearing orange and blue, which is sad to me” Benjamin said. “I’ve been here for 12 years-eighth year as the varsity coach. It’s bittersweet. I’m excited for what’s to come, but sad that it’s over here at Edwardsburg. I had a great group of girls this year at Edwardsburg. I was just telling them in the hallway, I can’t necessarily say that I had 12 volleyball players on the court by nature. But I had 12 great athletes this season and they worked so hard for me. I think this group did what they could with their abilities.”
In an attempt to motivate her team, Benjamin called six time-outs during the match.
“I think they were intimidated a little bit,” Benjamin said. “We don’t have any 6-2 players and any big bangers. We’ve been relying on our defense and our serving. When you’re playing a good team like Lakeshore and they’ve got tall volleyball players, that play year round, the instincts are a little bit more natural for them than they are for us. Hopefully, that changes at Edwardsburg.”
Bejamin’s first time-out came after team fell behind, 10-4, in game one. But the Eddies’ fortunes didn’t improve much after that stoppage in play as Benjamin called another time-out after Lakeshore increased its lead to 18-7.
Lakeshore won the first game after getting consecutive kills from Lauren Clem and Harleigh Racine.
“That was good for us,” said Lakeshore coach Lisa Gathright, whose team advanced into the district semifinals with a 22-27-2 record. “We needed to have a good start.”
Edwardsburg seemed to gain some momentum at the start of game two, jumping out to an 8-5 lead. But that lead wouldn’t last as Lakeshore went on a 9-2 run to take a 14-10 lead. That advantage grew to 24-15 before the Eddies rallied to score four straight points. Eventually, an Edwardsburg service error clinched game two for the Lancers.
“At the end of the second game I thought we were finally getting it,” Benjamin said. “We were getting on a little bit of a roll and loosening up a little and playing like the Edwardsburg team we’ve seen this year. We’ve done a lot of great things this year and competed against some great teams. I wish that competitive heart would have come out tonight.”
In game three, Lakeshore took a 13-7 lead after going on an 8-0 run. Edwardsburg battled back to tie the game at 15 and the game stayed close until the Lancers went on a 7-2 run to take a 24-19 lead. Clem’s kill clinched the game and the match for Lakeshore.
The Lancers were led offensively by freshman Taylor Joachim, who finished with nine kills.
“Taylor played a great game,” Gathright said. “She wants the ball.”
Edwardsburg got four kills from its lone senior-Bronnie Tafunai.
“She did a good job tonight,” Benjamin said.

LAKESHORE OVER EDWARDSBURG, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20
At St. Joseph
Kills: Taylor Joachim (L) 9, Lauren Clem (L) 6, Rachel Lange (L) 4, Harleigh Racine (L) 4, Bronnie Tafunai (E) 4, Alexis Blake (E) 3, Andrea LaPlace (E) 2.
Blocks: Taylor (L) 3, Lange (L) 2, Clem (L) 2, Blake (E) 3.
Aces: Alex Miller (L) 3, LaPlace (E) 3.
Assists: Macy Smith (E) 10, Lindsay Nunez (E) 6.
Digs: Sam Johnstone (L) 4, Ashlee Klomparens (L) 3, LaPlace (E) 9, Nunez (E) 6, Madison Hatkevich (E) 5, Ally McIntee (E) 4, Smith (E) 3.
Records: Lakeshore 22-27-2, Edwardsburg 16-27-5.