Bittersweet Ending

Captain Reflects on Final Season 

Senior Veronica Ferreiras entered her final season as a member of the Manhattanville women’s volleyball team this year. Serving her third year as the captain of the team, Ferreiras has proven to be a valuable player for the team. She has played for the Valiants for all of the four years that she has spent at Manhattanville.  

“I finished my collegiate athletic career 10^th in single season record history for assists, and 7^th in all-time record history for assists. These records have meant a lot to me, I’ve worked hard for them,” said Ferreiras.  

Volleyball has always played a large role in Ferreiras’ life. “I started playing volleyball when I was about eight years old and have never lost the love for the game since. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to play it all these years. I am going to be 22 soon, I can’t believe how quickly time flies,” said Ferreiras. 

Ferreiras’ senior year has been one of the most memorable years at Manhattanville and also the most bittersweet one. While her personal collegiate career proved to be striking the teams that she has played for have not been able to be as successful. This season however proved to be different. This was the first season in a long time where the Valiants were close enough to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, their efforts were unable to take them that far. 

“We ended the season with a 3-4 record in conference, which was record breaking as the first time in program history since we have entered the Freedom Conference that we have won more than one game in playoffs. It was definitely bittersweet in the perspective that although we did not get as far as we should have and wanted to, we still made remarkable moves for this school's program,” said Veronica Ferreiras.   

What made matters worse for Ferreiras was the fact that she was unable to help the team try to win their last conference game, the one that would give them a playoff berth. During her senior game, Ferreiras had unknowingly suffered a concussion. She hadn’t found out until two days after the game.

“After a day of practice and speaking to the athletic trainers, I was told that there was absolutely no possibility that I would be able to play in what could have been and was my last competitive school volleyball match ever,” said Ferreiras. “It literally was heartbreaking; to know that what I have worked for my whole life to be ripped out of my hands days before it would take place was one of the most emotionally painful experiences I have ever dealt with.”

 It was certainly not the outcome that she had dreamt about, but Veronica Ferreiras was happy to be able to witness the final game and be there to support her team. Now that her collegiate athletic career is over, Ferreiras has to shift her focus on her what the future holds for her. She will be graduating in May with a psychology major, along with a sociology, and art minor.

“My plans for the future after college still are not concrete. It's honestly really hard to think about the next step after college without being completely taken back or scared. My plan as of now is to go to graduate school into the clinical psychology field. My life goal is to have my own practice and incorporate aspects of music and art therapy into my own practice,” said Ferreiras, while taking a reflecting back at her college career and looking forward to what lays ahead.