What a treat it has been to watch thhese 8 seniors grow into the volleyball players and wonderful young women they are. I was fortunate enough to know most of them from age 10 to now and watch them in both school and at NKYVC. I have seen them win some of the biggest prizes with hard work and determination and have seen them experience heartbreaking losses with grace and class - including last night.

 

Special shout out to the Saelinger girls who ended their vball careers last night. I will never forget the first time I saw them compete at age 9. Each one unique and special but all with that same "look" in their eyes. You will be truly remarkable in whatever you decide to do.

 

To Ms Morgan Hentz, I will simply say Thank You for the highlight reel that plays in my head. Thank you for the lessons you have taught your many teammates over the years, thank you for elevating the play of every player on every team you have ever played on, thank you for the guts you show every time you step in the court and, finally, thank you for taking care of a vball program that I care about deeply. In my 35 years of watching this sport you are truly one of the best to ever play from our area and, without a doubt, the best Panda we have ever had.

 

To the role players, thank you for always trying to do your jobs without the glory and fanfare that others may get. Colvin, Knaley and Salkowski you will all excel at the next level and I can't wait to follow your careers.

 

Talko - you made the number on your back proud and brought respect back to the position by being a pure setter who understood her role. That had been missing at NDA. I will miss your wit and smile but more than anything, I will miss those crafty little dumps in transition that score every time. You will do great things at Transy and I know you will keep smiling.

 

Times are a changin at NDA....

Great post. The end part is all too true, though. I'm nervous just thinking about next year for NDA.

I don't want to lose focus on the purpose of this post because the seniors deserve the positive press.

What a contrast to the last big group of seniors the Academy graduated in 2014. They and their parents were an embarrassment. I couldn't agree more with the OP. I didn't know these ladies as personally but I certainly admired them as much. Go make us proud ladies. Panda Nation loves you and will carry on.

It's now time for the underclass women to keep it going. We know you will and will be rocking in 2016. Stay positive and confident !!!! You're part of the great tradition.

Great post! very proud to have watched these girls grow up and excel. They've set the bar high and I expect the NDA program to stay the course. Maybe not with the same level of talent each year but with the same spirit and fight. Go Pandas!