First-year Avery Reed serves a ball. Reed leads the Bears in serves this season. (Rachel Benitez-Borrego | Staff Photographer)

Cheers erupted in the Field House as the WashU volleyball seniors walked out onto the court on Saturday morning to the support of their teammates, friends, and family. The team honored five seniors: outside hitter Anna Hodell, outside/right side hitter Anna Freeman, middle blocker Eva Boling, setter Sam Buckley, and right side hitter Tori Taylor. 

Over the past four seasons, WashU has put up a 93-24 record with three straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2022-2024. This resounding success is a testament to the seniors’ dedication to the team and exceptional leadership. The Bears are ranked No. 5 in the country in the latest AVCA poll, finishing in the top 10 for the third consecutive week. 

In Saturday’s games, WashU fought hard to maintain their perfect home record this year, defeating Concordia 3-1 and Simpson College 3-2 in a five-set thriller. 

Concordia, 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 25-14)

WashU defeated Concordia in the first match of the day in a steady yet overall dominant victory. After a decisive 25-16 win in the first set, the Bears would go on to narrowly lose the second, 23-25. Still, they maintained their composure, eventually coming back to win the match 3-1.

The Bears attacked early in both of the last two sets and never gave up the lead. WashU took the third with a series of small runs, none of which were answered by Concordia. They then dominated the fourth set, sealing the victory with an 11-point margin, the largest of the match. Despite early success, the Bears never got too comfortable, maintaining their focus until the final point.

“I thought our team did a great job of keeping our composure throughout both matches,” Buckley wrote in a statement to Student Life. “Sometimes it can be challenging to stay locked in on Senior Night, but we stayed steady and really compartmentalized each point. Both Concordia and Simpson are gritty teams with very scrappy defense, and I was proud of how we responded.”

Buckley played a significant role in WashU’s victory, directing the attack with 52 assists — more than the entire Concordia team combined. She currently ranks first across all Division III women’s volleyball with an astounding 11.2 assists per set.

Freeman also had a strong performance with 15 kills, while junior Leah Oyewole led the team with 17. A kill by Freeman, assisted by Buckley, fittingly closed out the final set — a reminder of everything these seniors have given the WashU volleyball program.

Buckley had nothing but praise for her classmates, citing their accomplishments both on and off the court as a deciding factor in the team’s success.

“I feel very honored to be leading alongside the other seniors, who are such hardworking and humble people. Anna Freeman and Eva [Boling] get the job done, and we all trust them in high pressure moments. Tori [Taylor] and Anna Hodell give fantastic insight in our huddles and see the court well from that third point of view perspective.”

Simpson, 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15)

Going into the second game against Simpson College, the seniors continued setting the tone for the tournament. However, it wasn’t just the veterans that made an impact: The first-years stepped up in big ways. Last week, first-year Nia Jones had a breakout start to her first season, setting a school record for most blocks in a three-set match in a game against Greenville. Coming into this tournament, she was ready to defend that record and remind everyone why she’s a force on the court. 

WashU came out of the gate strong in the second game, dominating the court and taking the opening set 25-18 with relative ease. In the second and third sets, the Bears struggled to maintain momentum. Simpson narrowly edged out WashU, taking the sets 19-25 and 23-15 respectively. Despite their setback, WashU came back with a fourth set win, 25-20. 

“After taking the first set, we sometimes tend to get a bit too comfortable, which can lead to dropping points we should be securing,” Jones wrote in a statement to Student Life. 

In the final set, each team slowly crept toward the 15 points needed to secure a victory. When the game was tied 11-11, WashU served the ball over, and Simpson’s middle went up, but Jones secured a stuff block. 

“In that moment, it felt like a turning point. Despite how drained we were, that play reminded us: Yes, we can — and we will — win this match,” Jones wrote. 

WashU played the rest of the set with a fluid, almost choreographed precision, telling the crowd, “We are a force to be reckoned with.”

“I left it all out there — especially for our seniors, knowing it was their final home weekend,” Jones wrote. 

The seniors’ commitment to the team, work ethic, energy, and focus have ensured that the next generation can carry their legacy, and Jones showed that perfectly. 

“Watching them give their all, especially in their final season, reminds me why we play and motivates me to match their level of dedication,” Jones wrote. 

Under the seniors’ dedicated leadership, the Bears have exploded to a 10-1 start to the season, their best in three years. Still, they’re not done yet.

When asked about her accomplishments, Buckley could only look forward.

“I want my legacy to be about giving everything to this program and trying to win a natty with this team,” she said. “I am very excited for what is ahead this season.”