When seniors Courtney Evans and April Gerry walked on the volleyball court four years ago, they were freshmen joining a brand new head coach. When they walked off the court on Nov. 12 with their Tufts volleyball careers behind them, they did so as the captains of the winningest team in the program's history.
After entering the school as part of coach Cora Thompson's first recruiting class, Evans and Gerry finished their careers as All-NESCAC members on a team that finished 29-7 and made it to the NCAA Regional Final, uncharted territory for a Tufts volleyball team.
"I was just really proud to be a part of a program that has come so far in four years," Gerry said. "I was just proud to be involved in it and also to be a part of coach Thompson's first recruiting class. We came all the way though with her so I thought that was special."
Evans and Gerry's ride ended at the hands of Colby after the Jumbos notched 57 wins the last two seasons.
"If you look at what this program has done in the past four years, it is a direct result of their passion and competitive spirit," Thompson said. "They have both been a huge part of creating something unique and special."
Evans and Gerry manned the middle for the Jumbos, leading the Tufts block. Evans finished second in the NESCAC with 1.12 blocks per game. Gerry contributed offensively with the eighth-best hitting percentage in the conference. Their performances caught the attention of the other league coaches as the two were named to the All-NESCAC Team.
"I was really, really surprised," Gerry said of her selection. "I definitely did not expect that at all. It was an honor that came from the success of our team. All year, the other girls worked so hard in making us look good."
Much of what the two captains contributed, however, was leadership. With a team that included six freshmen, including the starting setter and libero, and four sophomores, Thompson needed more from her captains than stats.
"When you have such a young team, strong leadership from the top is crucial," Thompson said. "They were bringing to the court experience confidence and a sense of stability every time they stepped on the court. They needed to lead not only with their play but with their composure, knowledge and passion."
Many times, being a leader simply meant elevating the play on the court. In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Gerry did just that, recording 15 kills in 26 attempts, to lead the team to a win over Colby-Sawyer. In similar fashion, Evans collected 11 kills and eight blocks in a crucial NESCAC Semifinal victory over Trinity.
The Colby-Sawyer match was one of many memorable moments for the two departing seniors. Evans and Gerry also remembered wins over Amherst their junior year and Williams this season, the first over those two teams in years.
Being a part of the team was more for Evans and Gerry than just playing volleyball, however. According to Evans, the rides home from tournaments were the most memorable part of her career.
"We all use that time to bond, make jokes and laugh at each other," Evans said. "We get to know each other because we always have to travel at least two hours to get to where we're playing on the weekends. It's just a lot of time where you get to know the people who become your best friends. The [teammates are] my best friends at Tufts."
Although Evans and Gerry played opposite positions and rarely spent time together on the court, they are close off the court.
"She's a great friend, a great teammate and a great volleyball player," Gerry said of her co-captain. "It's meant so much playing with her, spending four years with her. There's a special connection especially being co-captains together."
"April is such a great player to have out on the court," Evans said. "She always comes through with big plays. Off the court, she is one of the funniest people I've ever met and I enjoy spending time with her."
The two also share a bond with Thompson, who recruited them as her first recruiting class as Tufts head volleyball coach.
"I can still see their recruiting videos in my head," Thompson said. "I remember both of them coming for visits with their parents and interviewing them. I knew that they were interviewing me as a new and young coach as well. It was an interesting feeling. I was very excited when they both committed."
Four years later, Thompson's first recruits are done with Tufts volleyball and ready for graduation. For Gerry, the question of life after Tufts is not a clear one, as she has not determined her plans. Evans, on the other hand, is training for the Boston Marathon and interviewed with Teach for America on Tuesday.
Both players said that while their playing careers are over, they would enjoy getting involved in coaching down the road.
In the meantime, the Jumbos are excited about their chances next year, even without Evans and Gerry.
"I'm really sad," Evans said. "But I'm also excited to be able to watch them play for the next couple years. I think they're going to do great things. I think they're going to advance further than we did this year. I expect to see them in the Elite Eight. Although it's going to be hard to watch - I'm going to want to jump out there and play - I think they're going do a great job and I'm honored to have been a part of it."
Watching the team that she invested so much time in play without her, however, will not be easy.
"I'll miss it a lot," Evans said. "I guess that the feeling that I have is not necessarily a bad feeling because I know I'll be involved in volleyball later in life, but its sort of a sense of loss because that's been such a part of my life for so long. It's hard to watch basketball games, because I can't help but think I'll never be able to play on that court again. To all the athletes, you have to cherish every minute."
