On Monday, April 27th, Rosemont College Athletics held its final sports award ceremony in the school’s history. The emotional evening celebrated the achievements of student athletes across all programs.
One of the most memorable moments was the powerful Women's Volleyball Award Ceremony Speech delivered by Head Coach Erin Schuler.
Her words beautifully captured the pride, resilience, and legacy of the 2025 Rosemont Women’s Volleyball team — the last NCAA squad to represent the College.
Erin Schuler’s Full Speech
Good evening everyone. They say that in sports, the scoreboard tells a story, but it never tells the whole story. If you look at the 2025 season for Rosemont Women's Volleyball, you see a set of numbers. But if you were there—in the Hirsh Community Center or traveling with the team to Williamsport—you saw something much more significant than a win loss column. You saw the final chapter of a 31 year legacy.
Tonight, we aren't just talking about a season; we're talking about the end of an era. The 2025 Ravens took the court knowing they would be the last to wear the Rosemont jerseys, carrying three decades of history with them, and even though it was a demanding role that each of them played, they did so with a level of grace and tenacity that defines what it means to be a student athlete at Rosemont.
This year's roster was a unique blend of veteran leadership and fresh energy. We saw returning players like Jana Ehnot, Mya Hanford, Cameryn Roach, and Pearl Smith welcomed newcomers Mikalya Moffatt, Olivia Oliver, Brianna Porter, and Lori Shorten. They weren't just playing for themselves they were playing for every female and fall sport athlete who did not get to compete this season.
Think back to the home matches at the Hirsh Community Center. Even when the sets were tough, the support from every fan in that gym was felt. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because of the character of the players. Whether it was a service ace, big block, kill, or dig, this team celebrated every small victory as if it were a championship point.
The True Raven Spirit
The true heart of this team was perhaps best displayed near the end of our season, with Jana Ehnot chasing a ball and bruising her ribs at Penn State Harrisburg and continuing to play through the pain for the rest of the season, Brianna Porter playing a match on a broken wrist at Penn State Berks or in our final match against Penn College, when Pearl Smith, who returned to the court for that final game after an injury just days prior.
That is the Raven spirit in a nutshell—refusing to stay down, wanting to be there for your teammates one last time.
A Lasting Legacy
In that final match, we saw the culmination of a season's worth of work. Even in the final set of the final game, these athletes played with the same intensity they had in September. They "left it all on the court" isn't a cliché for this group; it was a mission statement. As Rosemont transitions away from NCAA competition, it's easy to feel a sense of loss. But look at what 31 years of volleyball has built. It built leaders. It built a sisterhood. It built a community that wears maroon and black with pride.
To the players of the 2025 season: You were the guardians of the flame. You finished the race. You may be the last NCAA volleyball team to represent Rosemont, but the standard of excellence, the grit you showed during the season, and the way you supported one another will be the blueprint for every student organization and club that follows in your footsteps. Thank you for your hard work, your sweat, and for showing us how to finish strong. Remember, Once a Raven, Always a Raven.
