Though only two players will leave, their spots will be tough to fill.

This weekend marked the end of seniors Maren Crabtree and Eliza Zwettler’s Eastern volleyball careers.

These two seniors made a had a great effect on every season they have played with the Panthers.

Crabtree, a setter, has been with Eastern since she was a freshman, which means she was part of the 2004 squad that was Ohio Valley Conference Co-Champions. Crabtree was the 2004 Freshman of the Year. Last season, she led the team with service aces and joined the 1,000 dig club for Eastern.

This season, Crabtree was able to place second in the all-time assists list with 4,637 assists and is in ninth place on the Panthers all-time digs list at 1, 354.

Zwettler, who transferred from Troy, lived up to her last season’s success when she led the team with 353 kills and was second with digs (356) and service aces (23). Zwettler was also named to the OVC All-Newcomer team. This season, she led the team with 446 kills. Zwettler had 401 digs, 33 service aces, 45 assists and 34 total blocks.

While these numbers and accomplishments speak for themselves, there is more the numbers don’t say.

No number shows their deddication to the game; numbers don’t display the effort put in to each match because the work ethic outside each match is not put down on record.

But it was evident from the seniors’ play all season.

The last match against Austin Peay was the end of a long road that both Crabtree and Zwettler had been on.

Though it is safe to say both will have some future connection with volleyball, this era of competition is over for them.

While accepting their applause and flowers at Senior Recognition Day, Zwettler and Crabtree must have had a tough time realizing the end was so near.

Zwettler said it took her a little bit to get into the rhythm of the match, though her personal EIU-best of 28 kills didn’t show much of her being out of it.

Crabtree also said she didn’t know what to say of the performance, but she was touched by the ceremony.

Though the Panthers season ended at 12-17, 5-15 OVC, the level of seriousness on display by both seniors doing what they could with their opportunities showed how good and dedicated they were as players.

Next season sees a team that will return many of its starters and will have new faces as well – but there will be no replacing those who have left.

There just simply will be a new player that may coincidentally wear the same number.

While Crabtree and Zwettler’s journeys end, next season will see new freshman embarking on theirs.

And so the cycle will continue. Though the two seniors will be

graduated, they will always have a place in the EIU volleyball history, and both have plenty of accomplishments to be proud of.