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Beyond the statistics, the Saints left a mark with their energy, cohesion, and character. Home matches became campus events, and the team commitment set a standard for excellence. �We didn�t just win � we inspired,� Seid said. �We set the standard.�

Former assistant coach Denitra Seals concurred: �It awesome that they are getting recognized. They truly deserve it because they were hard workers on and off the court. These players took care of their work in the classroom and on the court. It showed in their play. They were resilient and driven.�

Players recall the camaraderie as a defining element. �That year was so special,� said Hooper, now a curriculum director on Cape Cod. �We had great upperclassmen who were welcoming and such strong role models. Beyond playing well together, we were just a very close, friendly team.�

Miklus, a mental health therapist in Tampa, agreed: �Even though we were very different personalities off the court, we respected each other � and that showed in how we played.� Rachel Offenburg �09, now consulting for medical device startups in Malta, added, �I�d never experienced a team so close on and off the court. Many of us still talk regularly. That closeness was a huge reason for our success.�

Barry reflected on the team culture: �We had a close team with minimal drama, lots of support and laughs. Amy and Beth had impact because of their dedication and positivity. The coaches were also positive influences on how to play with dignity and integrity.�

Seals highlighted the leadership of the team captains: �When the three senior captains � Amy, Beth, and Kendra � were freshmen, they came in making an impact right away, which led us to reaching the GNAC championship for the first time in the school history.�

There were defining matches that tested the Saints� resolve. Beating longtime rival Rivier on their court in front of a packed � and unfriendly crowd � remains a favorite memory for many. So does the team first NCAA tournament win, an upset no one expected.

�Joe was the only one who didn�t pack an extra outfit because he thought we�d lose in the first round,� Miklus recalled with a laugh. �We prepared to win � he did not.�

Ferreira, who transferred to Emmanuel from Saint Anselm, remembers her own early nerves. �My first game setting in a 5-1 offense was terrifying. I�d never been a setter before, but that was my role now. It taught me that persistence pays off.�

Lessons That Last

For players, the lessons extended far beyond the gym. Miklus admits she struggled at times to balance academics and athletics. �But my professors were supportive, and I learned the importance of responsibility and time management. I use those lessons with my clients today.�

Hooper, too, found balance through mentorship. �Dr. Palumbo [David Palumbo, Associate Professor of English] was incredibly supportive � he wrote me a recommendation for grad school. Having faculty who cared about our games and our growth meant everything.�

Ferreira remembered the impact of both Seid and Seals. �They didn�t only teach us about the game, they taught us about life. Discipline and consistency make you great � that a lesson that still guides me today as a full-time working single mother.� 

Seals reflected, �They were all accountable for each other, regardless if they were starters or not. They treated each other with respect, took constructive criticism, and applied it to be better each year. They were awesome people to be around, and I am so proud of who they have become after leaving Emmanuel.�

Barry added, �If you have an issue, just face it head-on and address it. That lesson has stayed with me well beyond volleyball.�

Offenburg, who once hesitated to commit fully to the team, said her coach advice still resonates. �Coach Joe told me to trust the process. It a lesson I carry into my work now: trust your gut, go all in, and you can balance it all with the right support.�

A Bond Beyond the Court

The bonds formed in 2006 have endured. Players still meet up, text regularly, and even coach the next generation � Hooper on Cape Cod, Ferreira with her daughter team.

�I truly found a family at Emmanuel,� Miklus said. �The camaraderie we had, the bond of teammates on a successful team � that something you never forget.�

For Ferreira, the honor is deeply personal. �It feels like coming full circle. This is where it all began for me, and being honored is a reminder of just how special this community is and how much it shaped who I am.�

The Saints� record speaks for itself: three straight GNAC titles, an NCAA tournament victory, and a season that set the bar for every team that followed. But the legacy of the 2006 squad lies just as much in the friendships, the mentorship, and the lessons that carried into life after Emmanuel.

�We weren�t just champions,� Seid said. �We were three-peat champions � and that legacy lasts forever.�