As the No. 25 Saint Benedict volleyball team hosts Bethel at 7 p.m. tonight (Oct. 24), it will mark the final regular season game of the year in Claire Lynch Hall, and the last in the careers of seniors Shannon Bassett and Julia Bedford.

“It's going to be bittersweet,” Basset said with a smile. “Yeah it's going to be a weird feeling, but so special.”

“Both of them have played a really big role with us this year, just in helping shape and develop what goes on  in our program,” head coach Nicole Hess said. “Really setting a good example for our younger players, just with their work ethic and their commitment to the team. They're very selfless, they want whatever is best for the team and that is really a great model for our younger players.”

The two have been a part of Blazer Volleyball during one of the most successful runs in program history, as they seem destined for their third NCAA Tournament berth in four seasons this fall.

They joined the Blazers off the 2008 run to the Elite Eight, and were part of the 2009 MIAC Championship team in just their first year. Just yesterday they climbed back into the national rankings and No. 25 in the country, are still in the race for the 2012 MIAC title and heading back to the conference tournament for the fourth time in their careers, something only three other teams in the MIAC can say.

“It just gives us a lot of confidence,” Bassett said of playing on such successful and competitive teams. “The team has always been pretty good and whenever we get on the court we're always one unit, we always know that we can count on everyone else to do their part. So it really just gives us a lot of confidence I think.”

“As first-years they were put in a position to be on a successful team, and that sets the tone for how they're going to be the remaining three years,” Hess said. “And that experience definitely played a big part in what our younger players are doing. They've modeled the way and what the expectation is, and that's what we're looking for from our leaders.”

As just two seniors on a team loaded with talented underclassmen, they have not shied away from taking on a leadership role to help those young players understand the demands of the college game and what it means to play Blazer volleyball.

“It's been awesome, I love it,” said Bassett. “It's hard to come in and have that much talent, and they might not be totally confident at first, but as an upperclassmen it's so fun to see them grow and to kind of infuse the values and everything that goes along with athletics. Not just playing time but everything else, competitiveness and drive, and working towards one goal together.”

As her career comes to a close, Bassett looked back fondly on her four years, and was quick to remember the best times. “Going to the NCAA Tournament is always a blast. It's such good competition and it's just fun to travel together. Some of my best memories from college are with the volleyball team on the court, so yeah, it's going to be bittersweet for sure.”