Nov. 17, 2010

By: Robert Ivory

When the volleyball team takes to the floor Friday night at Woodling Gym in their Quarterfinal matchup with the UIC Flames, it will be the last time seniors Amy Benz, Lindsey Griffith and Meghan Mental enter as part of head coach Chuck Voss' squad.

"It's exciting and it's also sad because we have been here four years together," Griffith said.

"All of our hard work is coming to an end, but it's exciting to be finishing up and getting to start our future."

When asking the trio on their favorite memory while playing at Cleveland State, each had a unique perspective.

"I have to say all the girls, we are a giant family as we are all sister. We came in here together. We have been so close that I will never forget them," Griffith said.

Mental added:

"My favorite would be my freshman year, when we won conference at Milwaukee. No one thought we were going to. We were underdogs, we came through and we won, and that has to be the most exciting thing since I have been here."

And Benz said:

"It's a tough one because we have done a lot of good things. Obviously, freshman year winning the championship and going to the NCAAs was awesome."

Although the end is near, Mental puts the rest of the year in perspective.

"We are not looking at the past and we are trying to take it on game at a time. Its kind of weird, coming down to the end of the year for me that its almost ever." She also has big expectations on her plate.

"I am expecting to play until late December."

Benz has perceived her four years as a motivation for her last games.

"Its sad that its coming to an end, but it has been a good four years. We have had a lot of success, but I think that is making it easier. I am realizing that it is the end, but I think we are in a good position to do good things and have a good rest of the year.

"I think our team has been better since [winning the championship]. I am sad that I am not going to be part of it in the future, because I think that really good things can happen.

I did ask what Benz would think boos-ending her career with Horizon League Championships.

"That would be just fantastic. It would be great to experience it with a new group of girls who I think really deserve it. It would be a great way to go out."