Creighton Volleyball, what a wild, unforgettable ride it’s been this season! The Bluejays soared higher than ever, delivering the most effective season in the history of the program. However, even the most dazzling dreams may end rather tragically, and this incredible story of the team was stopped in the Elite Eight. On Sunday night, the sixth-ranked Bluejays faced the second-ranked Penn State in a sensational five-set match. Penn State squeaked them out 25-15, 16-25, 25-22, 20-25, and 15-7. The loss stopped Creighton’s school record for 25 consecutive wins, which was also the current record for the longest active win streak in the nation. Ending the season on a 32-3 tear, the Bluejays provided fans with a season full of excitement, with the only sting in the tail being that it left the fans hearts broken.

This wasn’t just another season for Creighton—it was a masterpiece. They have won 119 games in the last four years and rank only second to Pittsburgh as the best team in the country. Oh, and let’s not forget about their ‘multiple-sport’ sorcery! Creighton is the only school since 2021 to hit the Elite Eight in women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, and men’s soccer. Talk about a legacy! And, finally, the lights went out, and head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth said all those things that people would do after such an extraordinary season.

In a super emotional moment shared by Creighton Volleyball on X, Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth had the entire locker room feeling all the feels after their season came to an end. With the team gathered around her, she spoke straight from the heart. “I don’t know if I’ve enjoyed the journey as much as I’ve enjoyed this journey with you guys,” she said, tearing up. “You left your hearts out there, you guys. I’m hurting with you, but man, what you guys have done this season, I hope you can appreciate how phenomenal you’ve been, night in and night out. Sometimes the journey doesn’t end the way that we want it to end. But you guys can look back and say, I did the right journey, I did it the right way.”

Booth saved some extra love for the seniors, saying, “The legacy that you guys are leaving in this program, taking us to a whole other level. Thank you is the first thing that I want to tell you guys. I love you guys so much. I hope you seniors know, I’m going to love you for the rest of your life. I wasn’t prepared, so I don’t have the right words, but just know I’m proud of you, I love you. And it hurts.” A perfect end to a historic season, even if it wasn’t the ending they wanted.

Not a surprise here—Creighton Volleyball’s coach, Kirsten Bernthal Booth, was an emotional mess, and really, who wouldn’t be? She’s called some of her players “like my daughters,” and yeah, that hits deep. This was not only the end of the best season in the history of the program but also the final time that players such as Norah Sis, Kendra Wait, and others wore the Bluejay jersey. The locker room? Full of tears. The coach? Struggling to hold it together while reflecting on everything these players brought to the program. It’s not every day you see a group of athletes leave such an unforgettable legacy.

By the time the post-match press conference rolled around, emotions were running sky-high. Not only did they fail to capture the national title; they were saying goodbye to a dream team. There was a lot of love and heartache in Booth’s words as she talked about her seniors. “It’s hard for me to put into words with these two and our senior group. God, they’re just… the best women. They are selfless,” she said, tears choking her with each pause.

And then she dropped the ultimate heart-melter: “I mean, I love them like my daughters.” If you’re not tearing up yet, are you even human? And with the coach this emotional over such a heartfelt sendoff, it makes you wonder—how has Kirsten Bernthal Booth transformed Creighton Volleyball into the powerhouse that it is today?

Creighton Volleyball shines under the leadership of Booth!

Kirsten Bernthal Booth, the brains behind the Creighton Volleyball team, has risen to be an icon in the sport. She is a three-time National Coach of the Year and is coaching one of the most successful teams in the country and is also the President of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. In her tenure at Creighton, Booth’s teams have created a magical run that has included 13 NCAA Tournament appearances in 14 years, 10 consecutive BIG EAST regular-season championships, and an astounding BIG EAST record of 176-13 since 2014. Seriously, who does that? And we haven’t even mentioned her 470-189 record at Creighton and that is a .713 winning percentage, folks.

Booth has made the Bluejays almost invincible at home and Sokol Arena has become their stronghold with a 178-33 record since 2009. The fans fill up the stadium like a rock concert. The top 50 attendance in the nation has been recorded in 17 out of the last 18 seasons. Booth’s charisma is not restricted to the court; rather, it has been taken to the community, where interaction with the players and fans has created some of the most charged-up audiences in college volleyball. Ah, and the new home; she was also instrumental in the opening of the Ruth Scott Training Center, a state-of-the-art practice facility that has raised the bar on preparation for the program.

From cultivating conference MVPs and Freshman of the Year winners to guiding her team to six national seeds in nine years, Booth has cultivated a volleyball empire that is both tough and elegant. Her résumé is the stuff of legends—54 First Team All-Conference picks, 17 AVCA Team Academic Awards, and a program that’s been a top-25 regular for over a decade. But let’s be real; it’s not just about the accolades. It’s about the heart, the hustle, and the family she’s created at Creighton—a legacy that continues to soar higher with every spike and every roar from the crowd.