Berenter was hit in the face by a ball while doing defensive drills during practice last Wednesday. The fluke injury required her to fly home for surgery over the weekend.

“As a teammate, the hardest part about her injury is having to watch someone you love have to give up something that has meant so much to them for so long,” senior Claire Voris said.

After Friday’s double-header against Fontbonne University was postponed because of rain, the Bears split Saturday’s double-header against Monmouth College in their first games since Voris’ injury and after a 10-day break from games.

“It was really hard to come off of that because Ally is such a critical part of the team,” freshman Maggie Mullen said. “We all knew she wanted us to play our best.”

The Red and Green, backed by a season-high 14 strikeouts from Voris, took the first game 1-0. Sophomore Ashley Janssen hit a single, stole second and then advanced on a groundout by junior Alyssa Abramoski. Janssen then scored off a groundout by Voris in the top of the sixth. Voris shut the door on the Scots, retiring the side in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Monmouth Fighting Scots came back in the nightcap, taking advantage early off two unearned runs in the first inning. The Bears’ bats struggled, producing only three hits in six innings.

“We had some really good hard hits that they just fielded really, really well,” sophomore Hilary Stepansky said.

The last inning was a different story, as the Bears erupted for five hits. Mullen started off with a single followed by sophomore Alex Fjeldheim. An RBI double to left field from freshman Kelsey Neal scored Mullen, but a good relay throw beat pinch-runner Stepansky to home plate. Sophomore Sondra Polonsky’s single helped Neal score before the rally was stopped on a strikeout. The two-run rally was not enough, and junior Olivia Cook was saddled with the loss despite giving up one earned run.

“Luckily our team has so many skilled players that we will be able to recover from losing Ally,” Ferguson said. “This past weekend Alex Fjeldheim had many great plays at first, including a diving catch.”

Senior Day continued despite the incident and the rain that washed out Friday’s double-header. The celebration occurred in the Hall of Champions with game-day introductions, supportive family members, and gifts. The team gave its graduating seniors shadow boxes filled with memorabilia and showed a video message.

“We just wanted to show our appreciation for them as seniors for everything they do for the team,” Stepansky said.

Seniors Berenter, Voris and Antonia Ferguson left their impact on the program with three NCAA tournament appearances and three UAA Championships.

“They are all such unique personalities on the team that I don’t think there’s going to be anyone like them in the future,” Mullen said.

Each of the seniors was a captain this season. Berenter finished with 15 career home runs, tied for fifth in school history. Voris is currently 23rd in NCAA Division III history with 775 strikeouts. “I am very proud to have had the honor and privilege of coaching them,” head coach Leticia Pineda-Boutté said

The greatest impact for the seniors was not the softball but rather the relationships they formed.

“Most of the play-by-plays become a blur, but it’s girls I’ve played with that I’ll never forget,” Berenter said.

The team said that even the 6 a.m. practices five days a week during the preseason were bearable.

“The team is so fun you forget you only got 3 hours of sleep,” Ferguson said. “I’m going to miss [the underclassmen] so much; it will be strange not to see them every day.”

The No. 22 Bears will host Fontbonne on Friday before travelling to No. 20 DePauw College on Saturday.

“The Bears plan on finishing strong,” Voris said. “Though Ally won’t be able to be on the field, there is no doubt she will be with us all the way.”

The point could have been any one of the 75 scored in a 3-0 victory over Concordia University on Friday’s senior night.

Seniors Alli Alberts, Ali Crouch, Audra Janak and Nikki Morrison of Washington University’s No. 4 volleyball team all contributed to the play. A dig by Alberts, a set by Janak, a fake by Morrison and a spike by Crouch gave WU a 1-0 lead in the third set. “It meant a lot for us to be on the court at the same time,” Crouch said.

In their time at Wash. U., the seniors have helped capture the 2006 UAA and the 2007 NCAA Division III national championship, a feat they will try to accomplish once more in their final season in uniform.

“It’s weird to think the season is almost over,” junior Erin Albers said. “We all love the seniors.”

Morrison and Crouch ran wild against Concordia University, recording 15 and a career tying high of 13 kills respectively as Wash. U. won in straight sets (25-13, 25-21 and 25-15).  Janak led with 43 assists and Alberts had a team high of 11 digs. “All the seniors played exceptionally well and gave a little extra,” freshman Erin Kasson said.

Concordia had a 21-19 lead in the second set before a kill by Janak off an Alberts assist and another kill by Crouch knotted the score at 21. Janak and sophomore Nicole Penwill had back to back block assists, freshman Tricia Brandt sent in a service ace and Crouch clinched the set with kill.

Sophomore Zach Streit, who was dressed as a penguin for a Halloween party, did pushups for every kill Crouch made on Friday. “No words to express it,” Crouch said. “I love Zach.”

Prior to the Culver-Stockton College match, the seniors were presented with gifts from their coaches and younger teammates. It was Albers and Kasson who tore up the court against Culver-Stockton, as the Bears mauled the Wildcats with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-14 lashing. Middle hitters Albers and Kasson had 12 and 10 kills respectively.

Monmouth College nearly pulled off an upset Saturday morning. After the Bears demolished the unranked Scots 25-11 and 25-14, the Fighting Scots held on to early leads to defeat the Bears 25-21 and 25-23, forcing a fifth set.

“Wash. U. made some uncharacteristic errors, and we didn’t,” Monmouth Head Coach Kari Shimmin said.

The freshmen duo of outside hitter Kristen Thomas and setter Lauren Budde connected four times in the decisive 15- 9 fifth set. Thomas’ career high of 18 kills propelled the Bears to victory. “It shows that we can’t let up,” Morrison said.

Wash. U. turned up the pressure against Millikin University, opening up with a 25-13 win. Morrison, Albers, Crouch, Alberts and Kasson all had seven or more kills in the definitive victory. Alberts led the offense and defense with team highs of 10 kills and 17 digs as the Bears took the second and third sets 25-19 and 25-14.

Morrison, Albers and Kasson were named to the All Tournament Team. Morrison led the Bears with 35 kills this weekend while Albers and Kasson both recorded 34 kills. The three hitters accounted for more than 50 percent of the Bear’s 200 kills this weekend.

The Bears are the No. 2 seed in the University Athletic Association championships after falling to No.2 Emory University. Wash. U. takes on No. 3 seed Carnegie Mellon University, No. 6 Case Western Reserve University, and No. 7 New York University this weekend. The conference finals will be held at 4:30 p.m. in the Field House on Saturday with the winner receiving an automatic postseason bid.

“Now’s the time we step up and play hard,” Brandt said. “Hopefully we’ll have lots of fans and kick butt.”