This fairy-tale season ended happily ever after as Washington University’s volleyball team finally got its own national championship rings and banner.

“This doesn’t feel real,” said senior Captain Haleigh Spencer. The 13th national championship for Wash. U., and the ninth in volleyball, was not easy as the monumental tug-of-war featured the No. 4 Bears against fifth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Both squads fought for every single point, doing whatever they could to get the job done. In one play, junior outside hitter Alli Alberts nearly fell into the Bear bench to make a save.

The killers came out with four Bears posting double-digit kills paced by outside hitter Spencer’s 19, while the defense was digging as if they had stumbled upon hidden treasure. Five Bears had double-digits in digs, with sophomore libero Laura Brazeal’s 32 digs closely followed by Spencer’s 31 digs.

Senior defensive specialist Lindsay Schuessler had the best serving performance of the night with 20 successful serves, including the game three-winning service ace that tumbled just over the net.

The Bears were barely challenged in the first game as they maintained a solid lead, but the Red and Green fell to the Warhawks’ rapid run of points in the second. Wash. U. kept fighting back and refusing to roll over, but they were unable to catch up.

Going into the third game, the Bears regrouped and fought back. The Warhawks had a stunning zero hitting percentage as Wash. U. kept pumping in kill after kill. One Warhawk had to use her hands to save her face from a blistering spike.

The intensity level then went up several notches in the final two games. There were many moments where the teams were separated by only two points in the fourth game. Whitewater refused to roll over and prevailed 30-28, forcing a game five.

The fifth game was particularly nerve-wracking, as it was played to 15 points, making the impact of a two-point lead much greater. The teams could scarcely afford trading points back and forth. Wash. U. worked its way up to a 14-11 lead before Whitewater nearly came back from the brink of defeat.

The Final Moment

The score was 14-13 in the final game, with Whitewater serving. One point separated the Bears from bringing another banner back to the Fieldhouse. “You never know until it’s over,” said junior outside hitter Ali Crouch. “You can’t underestimate us.”

Despite attempts by Wash. U. fans to rattle the server, the ball went over the net, where it was received and returned. Junior setter Audra Janak set the ball to the right side where senior outside hitter Ellen Bruegge was ready as she smacked the ball down just inches away from the outstretched hand of a diving Whitewater player to clinch the national title.

“We did not stop believing and just got the win,” said senior captain Kathy Leeper.

That’s when the Red and Green rushed into a massive dogpile.

“As a freshman, winning the national championship is similar to going out to the beach, surfing for the first time, catching a fifty-foot gnarly wave and totally nailing it,” said middle hitter Marya Kaminski.

The Rocky Road to the Championship

“I’m really glad we did this for our seniors,” said freshman libero Ali Hoffman. Leeper and Spencer joined the Bears the year after they had won a national championship, yet they never had their own title until this weekend.

At the beginning of the season, Janak had written a letter to the team about the most memorable part of losing to Juniata at the national championships last year: It was the confetti streaming down on them which was rubbing in the loss. With “just remember the confetti” as a battle cry, the Bears were ready to get their own shower.

Despite the many doubters who felt that the team would not get this far, especially after finishing last in the Teri Clemens Invitational and losing to Whitewater 3-1, the Bears kept on fighting.

“In my coaching career, no team has improved this much,” said Coach Rich Luenemann. “We weren’t a very good team in the beginning, but we’re national champs today, and no one’s going to take that away.”

“We didn’t hit our peak till Carthage,” added Spencer. Things finally “clicked,” according to team members, and the Bears have been at their best ever since.

Wash. U. has now beaten three teams in the Elite Eight who had taken them down before, first defeating Emory University in the quarterfinals, then the previously undefeated Wittenberg University in the semifinals.

“The season has come full circle,” said freshman middle hitter Jennifer Varriano.

Both matches against Wittenberg and Emory went to four games as the Bears avenged earlier losses. Emory took the second game which forced the Bears to dig deep into their hearts and improve every game. “We never let down, and we never gave up,” said sophomore middle hitter Erin Albers. The Red and Green shot the Eagles out of the sky as they dominated the fourth game.

Wittenberg entered the match with high spirits by taking the first game. The Bears came out of hibernation slowly, taking the second and third games backed by 17.5 team blocks, which is the second highest team total in the history of Wash. U. The Red and Green deflated the Tigers’ egos with explosive service aces.

They were wide awake and roaring in the fourth game with a dominating 30-15 victory.

“The Tigers folded under pressure,” said Bruegge.

Wittenberg fans who were earlier challenging Bear fans to a fight were stunned into submission as they watched in silence as their team was ripped apart.

The Fan Battle

Though the Warhawks ran the fan battle, scores of fellow varsity athletes came out to support the Bears. The football team had been in Bloomington since Thursday, and the men’s basketball team came straight from their tournament in Michigan.

Fans attempted to rush the court but were prevented by staff until the awards ceremony had concluded. They made up for the delay with bear hugs and plenty of cheers. Many were hoarse from losing their voices.

The Awards

Although there was no confetti, the Bears each received a gold watch and will be fitted with their championship rings. The massive trophy was presented to the four seniors who had a split second to grab a picture before being mobbed by their teammates. “I couldn’t have asked for a better team, season or result,” said Albers.

Spencer and Janak were both named to the All Tournament Team while Alberts was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player. “That’s not even real,” said Alberts, who set a career high of 16 kills. “It doesn’t come close to winning a national championship.”

The four seniors have reached the pinnacle of their career.

“This is the best team I have ever played for,” said Bruegge. “My career is finally complete.”

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