Friday, August 29th, 2008

ONLINE EXTRA: Team's three seniors see college careers come to a close

Selsor, Bowles, Porter have made huge contributions in their years at UCLA

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.