Nov. 23, 2005
Last Sunday the Tigers broke the huddle following a timeout, down 28-27 in game one to Texas at the Hearnes Center. An inexperienced team could have found themselves letting the game slip away, but every Tiger fan in the seats, and every Mizzou player on the court knew that this year's seniors wouldn't let that happen.
The Tigers rallied for a 30-28 victory within what seemed like the blink of an eye. Two games later, they grilled Longhorn steak, sweeping the match in close fashion, as senior Shen Danru provided the match-clinching kill. Taking care of business like that, wouldn't have been possible for the Tigers without their seniors.
The three pairs of eyes that belong to Shen, Lisa Boyd and Lindsey Hunter have come to witness the evolution of a Mizzou program that has become a force in the Big XII. Wins against top teams don't come by accident. It's no secret that a lot as changed from "Day 1" to "Day 1,461," four years later.
In the opinion of Hunter, the change has come because of good coaching and the fusion of a team molded tightly together. "My first year here was the second year the Kreklows were here and I think that anytime you get new coaches and the program is starting to turn around there's going to be a lot of changes. The transition with the coaches has been the biggest change," Hunter said. "Also, the togetherness of the team, we've had a lot of girls that have came into and then left the program. We're all such good friends."
Friendship and chemistry seem to be the common bonds that hold this team together. They've come together by doing the little things with each other. Boyd admits that one of her best Mizzou memories has nothing to do with volleyball. "Going through a haunted house with my teammates." Boyd said. "We were all in a big line holding onto each other, we were screaming."
"We went to the haunted house in Mexico, [Mo.] the outdoor one, it was so much fun." Hunter added.
As scary as walking through a haunted house in Mexico, Mo., can be, it has to be noted that living as a Mizzou Volleyball player isn't any easier. Along the journey, each senior noted that they have learned lessons that have kept them on the path and away from the pitfalls.
"One of the most important things I've learned is that body language is everything. Just to stay positive with everything. Being on a high profile team and an athlete, everybody has eyes on you." Hunter said. "Just be happy all the time; well, you can't be happy all the time but at least show people that you are, because we're really blessed to have this opportunity you can't go living everyday having a bad day."
Boyd, Hunter and Shen have also learned about the sacrifice and hard work it takes to keep team chemistry flourishing. "Learning to work as a team, getting through tough stuff as a team." Boyd said. "If one person on the team isn't doing well then we all have to work together to get past it as a team."
"Being there for each other like she was saying, we're a team, not individuals." Shen added.
Above all, these seniors will walk away from the game at the end of this season feeling truly blessed to be a part of something special. "The whole experience of being in-season is so much fun. It's us together everyday. Traveling on the 19-passenger plane is always fun, going to every school in the Big 12." Hunter said. "The experience that we've all been blessed to have is awesome because not very many people obviously get the chance to fly on a plane one morning and come to class the next morning. Being with the team every single day we're going to miss that."
With only one regular season home match remaining, the opportunity to see these great athletes perform at Mizzou is running out. Likewise, the number of visits to the Hearnes Center is dwindling for these seniors. Despite this, each player knows that now is definitely not the time to think about what lies ahead.
"We try not to think about it that way because it will really affect us emotionally." Shen said. "The beginning of the season I felt that way all the time, so did Boyd and Hunter, but when I get in the game I try to stay positive and we all just kind of work together to enjoy every happy moment on the court."
"I think it's hard because you want to play your best all the time." Boyd said. "Obviously you can't play your best every single game, and so it's kind of like `Oh my gosh, this is the last time I'll ever play Nebraska,' and if you have a bad game it's really not the end of the world but it kind of feels like it because this is the last time and I want to play really well."
The on the court results has been nothing short of spectacular for these Tiger seniors. Despite this, they agree that they don't worry about cementing a legacy in the history of Tiger athletics and would rather focus on each match as it comes. "I don't think about a legacy, that kind of stuff is always broken, people are always going to be better." Boyd said. "Personally for us it's something we really want to accomplish to make it as far as we can and have no regrets in the end."
Life does not end at the 30th point of the final match for these seniors. Boyd is engaged to be married, and plans a wedding following the completion of this season. Shen would like to finish up her Masters degree in accounting and has contemplated work in international business. Hunter plans to head west to Colorado Springs, Colo., where she will train with the U.S. Olympic team
The lasting impact of these three Tiger seniors could be felt long after their departure. However, it's not just the victories or the road trips that will leave an impression. For these three seniors, life on the team has been about more than their production on the court.
"I'll probably remember all the inside jokes we had and just how much fun. Even if we were so bored, we could just make fun out of nothing," Hunter said. "I'll definitely remember playing Uno and Phase 10 all the time. We play those games in hotel rooms like it's our job."
"I'll remember when we were throwing Reese's pieces up and Lindsey put her hand up and caught one in between her fingers." Boyd said.
"That was awesome." Hunter added.
That's why this team is so tightly woven; they enjoy each other on and off the court. They realize that success is about more than just the number of wins and losses and it is the journey not the result that will stand out in their minds long after they've left the Hearnes Center.
Boyd, Hunter and Shen will remember the road trips to Lincoln and Austin. They'll remember the big matches and victories, like the one last Sunday against Texas. They'll remember the nights in hotel rooms playing Uno and trips to haunted houses walking arm in arm. They'll remember every practice and every inside joke, but most of all, they'll remember each other.