Lehigh University Athletics
Volleyball Seniors Reflect on Careers Leading into Senior Day
11/3/2017 11:01:00 AM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With Senior Day set for Saturday at 5 p.m. against American, here are the 2017 Lehigh volleyball seniors and their thoughts as they take a look back at their time spent in the Brown and White.
#13 Kelly Bennett – Middle Blocker – Plano, Texas – Finance
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
KB: Traveling to Texas to play in the TCU invitational. I am from Dallas, so a lot of my family and friends were able to come watch me play. We played competitive volleyball and had a great time off the court bonding over delicious Mexican food.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KB: There have been a lot of ups and downs, but the other seniors have stuck together through it all. Our bond has grown over the years and we've gotten closer with it being our last season.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KB: I'm excited for senior day! It's a very symbolic event and our whole team comes together to support the seniors. It'll be nice to reflect on my time as part of the Lehigh Volleyball program and see all my accomplishments as I move forward.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
KB: I'm going to miss my teammates the most. I've grown extremely close to them, especially these past two years. They are some of my best friends at Lehigh and extremely supportive of me. I love them all so much!
What are your postgraduate plans?
KB: I have a full-time job with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in their Finance Analyst Development Program in New York City.
#1 Bonaire Berry – Setter – New Oxford, Pa. – Bioengineering
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
BB: The trip to TCU. It was filled with competitive volleyball, good food and laughs.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
BB: We are a close group because we have spent four years working hard together. We all do our own things, but support each other, celebrate our successes together and help each other through hard times.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
BB: It feels like the end of an era. I have been playing volleyball since I was 12 years old. However, new things have come into my life that bring me just as much joy and fulfillment, and I look forward to giving them more time and energy.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
BB: I will miss practicing with my teammates.
What are your postgraduate plans?
BB: I will be enrolling in a bioengineering master's program.
#17 Hannah Chalk – Defensive Specialist – Manhattan Beach, Calif. – Bioengineering
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
HK: Spring of junior year, going to Penn State and getting a flat tire on the side of the highway, almost leaving Gary in the middle of Pennsylvania. Getting there two hours late and the whole team playing lights out despite the adversity.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
HK: We as seniors have been through a lot together. We have dealt with a lot of ups and downs, but through it all we have always had each other. We don't always see eye to eye and are very different people with different goals, but I wouldn't trade these three for the world.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
HK: I am super stoked for senior night. I don't think it will fully hit me until the game is over. I am really excited to play in front of my parents and all my friends in Grace one last time. Playing American is always fun because it is super competitive and both teams play with a lot of heart.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
HK: I think I will miss my friends the most.
What are your postgraduate plans?
HK: I am currently waiting to hear back from a few companies.
#2 Stephanie Stieber – Defensive Specialist – Raleigh, N.C. – Industrial and Systems Engineering
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
SS: My favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory is beating American on Senior Night my junior year (2016). Not only did we beat the number one team in the conference, we swept them! It meant even more because I am really close with K.J. and Mariah, last year's seniors, and it was nice to get the win for them.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SS: All the seniors have been through a lot together to say the least. We have gotten closer over the years as we have grown and matured together. Kelly and I were freshman year roommates and couldn't have had a better time. Now, we are finishing college and living together again. We have always been close; she is like the sister I never had!
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
SS: While I am going to miss the thrill and excitement of playing a Division I sport, I am looking forward to the future and new opportunities in my life. Considering I have been playing year- round for the past 11 years, I don't know what I'm going to do with all my time!
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
SS: What I will miss most about Lehigh Volleyball is being a part of the team. I take pride in saying that I am on the Varsity Volleyball team and enjoy that I always have a group of girls that are all in the same boat as me.
What are your postgraduate plans?
SS: I am staying in the Lehigh Valley! Next summer I will start working for Air Products and Chemicals, primarily in IT working with data and analytics.
#13 Kelly Bennett – Middle Blocker – Plano, Texas – Finance
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
KB: Traveling to Texas to play in the TCU invitational. I am from Dallas, so a lot of my family and friends were able to come watch me play. We played competitive volleyball and had a great time off the court bonding over delicious Mexican food.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KB: There have been a lot of ups and downs, but the other seniors have stuck together through it all. Our bond has grown over the years and we've gotten closer with it being our last season.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KB: I'm excited for senior day! It's a very symbolic event and our whole team comes together to support the seniors. It'll be nice to reflect on my time as part of the Lehigh Volleyball program and see all my accomplishments as I move forward.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
KB: I'm going to miss my teammates the most. I've grown extremely close to them, especially these past two years. They are some of my best friends at Lehigh and extremely supportive of me. I love them all so much!
What are your postgraduate plans?
KB: I have a full-time job with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in their Finance Analyst Development Program in New York City.
#1 Bonaire Berry – Setter – New Oxford, Pa. – Bioengineering
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
BB: The trip to TCU. It was filled with competitive volleyball, good food and laughs.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
BB: We are a close group because we have spent four years working hard together. We all do our own things, but support each other, celebrate our successes together and help each other through hard times.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
BB: It feels like the end of an era. I have been playing volleyball since I was 12 years old. However, new things have come into my life that bring me just as much joy and fulfillment, and I look forward to giving them more time and energy.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
BB: I will miss practicing with my teammates.
What are your postgraduate plans?
BB: I will be enrolling in a bioengineering master's program.
#17 Hannah Chalk – Defensive Specialist – Manhattan Beach, Calif. – Bioengineering
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
HK: Spring of junior year, going to Penn State and getting a flat tire on the side of the highway, almost leaving Gary in the middle of Pennsylvania. Getting there two hours late and the whole team playing lights out despite the adversity.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
HK: We as seniors have been through a lot together. We have dealt with a lot of ups and downs, but through it all we have always had each other. We don't always see eye to eye and are very different people with different goals, but I wouldn't trade these three for the world.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
HK: I am super stoked for senior night. I don't think it will fully hit me until the game is over. I am really excited to play in front of my parents and all my friends in Grace one last time. Playing American is always fun because it is super competitive and both teams play with a lot of heart.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
HK: I think I will miss my friends the most.
What are your postgraduate plans?
HK: I am currently waiting to hear back from a few companies.
#2 Stephanie Stieber – Defensive Specialist – Raleigh, N.C. – Industrial and Systems Engineering
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
SS: My favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory is beating American on Senior Night my junior year (2016). Not only did we beat the number one team in the conference, we swept them! It meant even more because I am really close with K.J. and Mariah, last year's seniors, and it was nice to get the win for them.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SS: All the seniors have been through a lot together to say the least. We have gotten closer over the years as we have grown and matured together. Kelly and I were freshman year roommates and couldn't have had a better time. Now, we are finishing college and living together again. We have always been close; she is like the sister I never had!
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
SS: While I am going to miss the thrill and excitement of playing a Division I sport, I am looking forward to the future and new opportunities in my life. Considering I have been playing year- round for the past 11 years, I don't know what I'm going to do with all my time!
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
SS: What I will miss most about Lehigh Volleyball is being a part of the team. I take pride in saying that I am on the Varsity Volleyball team and enjoy that I always have a group of girls that are all in the same boat as me.
What are your postgraduate plans?
SS: I am staying in the Lehigh Valley! Next summer I will start working for Air Products and Chemicals, primarily in IT working with data and analytics.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
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DS
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DS
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