The connection with the sport frequently leads players to develop a passion for the program. Ultimately, players find their lives positively transformed because of the relationships formed with the sport and the program. Example? Lexi Rodriguez, the former Husker, is a prime one. After her last collegiate game in the Huskers’ jersey, she got emotional, saying, “Every single person, a part of this program. Oh, so sorry. It’s just truly amazing people, and they really changed my life, and they just believed in me, every single person, every single day from the moment that I stepped on campus.” She also promised to remain indebted to the program for the rest of her life. And she’s far from the only one with a story like this.

After the postseason NCAA volleyball championship, several seniors bid farewell to their programs, reflecting on the profound impact volleyball had on their lives. Among them, two Creighton Bluejays opened up about how their time with Creighton Volleyball completely transformed them. Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it—they credited the program for shaping them on and off the court. But who are these players?

Outgoing Creighton seniors reflect on moments that changed their lives

On December 29, Maddy Bilinovic shared an emotional farewell on her Instagram after graduating from Creighton. Her final collegiate game came during the NCAA Elite Eight, where she faced Penn State—the same program where she once attended volleyball camp. Despite the Nittany Lions taking the win and ending Creighton’s run, Maddy Bilinovic delivered a standout performance, racking up 16 digs against the top seed. It wasn’t enough to flip the result, but her effort didn’t go unnoticed—she left the court with well-deserved flowers.

So, what fueled her fiery determination? Not rivalry. Instead, it was her deep gratitude for the program that reignited her love for volleyball. “To be lucky enough to have this fifth year at Creighton University where I fell back in love with the game is something I will forever be grateful for,” she wrote in her Instagram post. She had a teammate in Creighton who echoed a similar statement. 

Ten days earlier, another Bluejay, middle blocker Elise Goetzinger, posted her farewell message on Instagram. Like Maddy B, Elise played her final collegiate game in the NCAA Elite Eight against Penn State. She wrapped up her career with 8 kills and a hitting percentage of 0.235. Despite the 2-3 loss to the Nittany Lions, Elise had no regrets. The 6’4″ middle blocker found her time at Creighton truly transformative.

In her farewell post, Elise opened up about her struggles before joining Creighton. She noted, “A year ago, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue playing volleyball. The balance of college athletics and academics was taking a toll on me. Mentally, I was in a horrible place. I was exhausted. I was burnt out. Going to practice felt more like a chore than the joy it used to bring. To me, it felt selfish to commit to playing another year when I wasn’t sure I’d be able to give 100%.” A year ago, she felt burnt out in the Kentucky volleyball program. But she made a suitable decision.

Elise Goetzinger’s decision to hit the transfer portal in her senior year turned out to be a game-changer. Creighton volleyball saw her potential, brought her into the Bluejays’ fold, and the rest, as they say, is history. Elise wrapped up her season as an AVCA All-West Region pick and an All-BIG East selection. Could she have pictured this a year ago? Not a chance. But by the end of 2024, she had the titles to prove her incredible comeback during her senior year at Creighton. And she’s not the only one on that list—there’s another name worth mentioning.

The Nebraska volleyball program had another example 

Merritt Beason ended her career with the Nebraska Huskers with a phenomenal tag. She was the only player on her contemporary Husker team who didn’t have to face a defeat in the home games. An unbelievable feat! But could she ever think of touching such a feat once? No. In fact, the former captain of the Huskers didn’t have a world around the volleyball sport. Hailing from Alabama, her career goal revolved around being a cheerleader in football games. “Volleyball wasn’t a big thing. I didn’t even know you could play volleyball at a young age. I didn’t grow up watching it,” she said once. But her timeline in the Nebraska volleyball team changed everything. 

After joining Nebraska in 2023, Merritt Beason had her fair share of shining moments. She led the Huskers to the NCAA Championship final last year and the semifinal round this year, all while stacking up individual honors along the way. But how did this transformation happen? Once again, the magic of NCAA programs and the support of teammates took center stage.

In her heartfelt thank-you note, Beason shared the raw truth about her journey: “These girls took me in at a time when I hated volleyball and at a time when to be quite honest, I hated volleyball. I didn’t want to continue playing volleyball and wasn’t super confident in Merritt as a human being and these girls and all the coaching staff took me in and allowed me to flourish. There’s countless memories and history that was made, but I think that alone is what I will forever be thankful for and something I didn’t know if I would ever get back.”

Stories like Merritt’s don’t just highlight the impact of the game—they might just inspire future generations to embrace the sport and the programs that change lives. Don’t you think?