It's my senior year, it's my senior year, it's my senior year, it's my senior year!

That thought can haunt your mind, and at times it does for me, but more than that it has become a great source of motivation. When I stepped into college my freshman year I had a feeling that I would be a senior before I knew it; and now that I am, it is amazing to me how I am still shocked at the idea of being in my last year at Dayton. The time, although packed with different faces, homes and memories, never ceases to amaze me on how fast it really goes. My years have all been very different thus far.

My freshman year, I lived at Marianist (Dormitory) with Kelly Keil, another freshman on the team, who is one of the greatest persons and friends I have ever known. Jennifer Strong and Amber Peterink headed the pack as seniors. I, like most freshmen, was unsure and was just trying to learn the ropes while keeping my head above water. We didn't have the most successful year to date and ended up losing to Xavier in the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament. Regardless, I knew I had come to Dayton to leave a legacy. A personal goal of helping the Flyers win an A-10 championship and going to the NCAA tournament was not out of my sights yet.

Sophomore year, with two new assistant coaches Kyle Rechlicz and Lesley Dickinson and living in a new setting (Garden Apartments with my other classmate Aundrea Lindsey our team had a different mind frame. We had seven seniors pulling up the front. I believe we won a lot of our games because our team willed ourselves to win. We went 25-9, appearing in Dayton Women's Basketball second-ever post season appearance. We went to the WNIT, after falling to Temple in the semis at the A-10 tournament. Brittany Holterman played that season with more passion than I had ever seen out of anyone and it was an honor to play with her, but I was not done yet.

I went into my junior year without Kelly by my side due to a transfer for a better fit. I had yet another roommate change but I still felt like I was stepping into my time. I was living with Kristin Daugherty and we had eight new faces added to the bunch. Casey Nance, Justine Raterman, Kayla Moses, Brittany Wilson, Elle Queen, De'Sarae Chambers, Patrice Lalor and Staci Willis left us with a challenge. I believe these eight have made us more talented than we have ever been, but as freshman, left everyone else wondering the fate of our year. Losing B-dub (Brittany Wilson) to a knee injury early and Elle being unable to play because she was a first year transfer, the remaining six had to step up huge and they did.

We pulled out a 21-14 record taking a tough loss to Richmond in the A-10 semifinals after beating #15 Xavier in the quarters. We still managed to squeak out another win and first-ever post season victory in the WNIT before being halted at Indiana on a last second tip-in.

Going into my senior year the changes have not stopped coming. We lost Coach Blauser, the only assistant I had all three of my previous years, as she followed love to Michigan. Coach Russ joined the squad along with three new freshmen Kari Daugherty, Olivia Applewhite and Sam MacKay. My new residence is at a house in the student neighborhood and although Kristin has stuck around Elle has joined in on the Kendel roommate train too.

Our team is different once again after graduating Ashley Brown and Marie Rosche also B-dub, Elle and Puna (Aundrea Lindsey) are now able to take the floor. Even with the losses and additions, we still have the same aspirations to be better than before, to be the best we've ever been.

People react to their senior year differently, I have become more driven and focused than I have ever been and like most, plan on having nothing left to give. I am sure my year will be an interesting one, full of moments that will test us and others that will bring us together but either way I know it will be the perfect cap on an amazing four years. I am glad I have been given the opportunity to share it with you all.

One of the questions I answered for the media guide was, "What is the greatest change or lesson learned you have faced in college." I answered: Life is not about the plan it is about the ride. Having ideas about things you may want to do is good, however, setting up the rest of your life pressures you into doing what you sought out to do instead of what you want to do when the time comes.

It's my senior year, it's my senior year, it's my senior year, it's my senior year. Enjoy the ride!

- Kendel Ross