As the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women’s volleyball season comes to a close, senior players Danielle Cushley, Amanda Fisch, Brooke Nichols and Samantha Rampart look back on their volleyball career and prepare for the future.
Cushley, senior business administration major, transferred to UW-Platteville from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville this year and has enjoyed her time as a player for UW-Platteville.
“I can enjoy volleyball a lot better, and the coaching is a lot better,” said Rampart.
One of her favorite memories in volleyball is the team’s trip to New York City to play in a tournament.
Nichols, senior business administration major, also looks back on that trip with fond memories.
“Every year we got to travel somewhere different,” Nichols said. “It was an opportunity to see a lot of different things that I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise.”
Nichols explained that her volleyball years were full of different experiences, were really busy and most importantly, were fun. She said she will be sad to see it end.
“It went extremely fast,” Nichols said.
Nichols and Rampart, senior elementary education majors, agree that of all the things they will miss about volleyball, they will miss their teammates the most.
“I’ll miss the girls I’ve been around for a while,” Rampart said. “They’re a second family, and I’ll really miss the things we do off the court together.”
Fisch, senior business administration major, also expressed deep gratitude toward her team.
“The group of girls that I’ve played with for the past four years have been absolutely amazing,” Fisch said.
“They’ve gotten me through the most difficult times in my life and I love each and every one of them and don’t know what I would have done without them.”
Pioneers head coach Deb Schulman will be sad to see these seniors go.
“They all have great personalities and leadership,” said Schulman. “To have four seniors is nice. All have special things they bring to the program.”
Schulman said these seniors have taken a young team and led them well. She has been impressed with their abilities and was proud to say that they’ve had winning seasons every year they’ve played for UW-Platteville.
Schulman had some advice for her departing student-athletes: “Continue being the special people that you are; always strive to learn. Strive to be good teammates in your family, work and the world.”
