By Diamond Leung
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Tears streamed down the face of Erika Selsor. For the third year
in a row, her Bruins fell one match short of the Final Four. This
time, it was all over for UCLA"s four-year starting setter.
"It has to end sometime," she said. "You can"t win them all.
I
had a good four years here, so I"m going have to be happy with
that."
For her and Bruin outside hitters Ashley Bowles and Kristee
Porter, four years of college volleyball ended with a three-game
sweep by top-ranked Long Beach State Friday at the Pyramid.
Still, they leave UCLA as three of the most accomplished players
in school history. Selsor holds the conference and school record in
assists. Porter leaves with the conference and school record in
kills.
All three players registered 1,000 digs each.
"They provided some great leadership and set the tone from the
day they walked through the doors," UCLA head coach Andy
Banachowski said. "We didn"t want it to end, but I"m very proud of
what they have accomplished. They"re going to be missed."
Meanwhile, the 49ers and their seniors are on their way to a
third Final Four. All-American middle blocker Cheryl Weaver pounded
down the final kill to close out the match. It was also her final
kill at the Pyramid.
"That"s something we"ve worked on the last four years we"ve been
together," Weaver said. And that"s a very powerful thing."
After the kill, the four 49er seniors bent down and kissed the
Pyramid floor before joining their teammates’ celebration.
"It"s our last time playing in this gym," senior setter Keri
Nishimoto said. "I love playing at home, and it was appreciation
for it."
But there is still volleyball left to be played for 49ers. For
the Bruin seniors, their careers flashed before them in a span of
93 minutes.
"There are a lot of memories that go along with it," Selsor
said, still crying. "These people become your best friends." You
get the feeling that she was crying tears of joy.