The University of Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball season is over and along with Winkler's Sarah Klassen's University volleyball career. Klassen has been part of the Bisons' for five seasons and wrapped up her graduating year this past weekend.

"It's pretty fresh for me right now. It's sad to be done because it has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. When I think about it I have been on an official sports team since I was ten. Even the fact that I will no longer be a full-time athlete is pretty strange. The experience I would never forget and I don't regret any part of it. It may have been hard at times, but it was also very rewarding at times as well."

This season didn't go quite as planned for Klassen and the Bisons as they finished the season with a 6-18 record and weren't able to qualify for the playoffs this year.

Five years worth of practices, games, classes, travels, and teammates comes with a lot of memories and highlights along the way.

"Highlight would be in 2013-14 we actually won the CIS national championship. That's something that not a lot of athletes ever get to do," Klassen said when asked about her favourite memories from her time with the Bisons'. "That was probably the most incredible. I think being team captain for the past two years has been a very big learning experience for me and has taught me a lot. Thirdly, it would just be the people you meet and the teammates that become life-long friends."

Klassen stated she has grown in many different ways, thanks to playing volleyball these past number of years.

"Absolutely. It's full of challenges. It challenges you physically, it challenges you emotionally, and it challenges you mentally, being a student athlete. Being a captain means you have to look out for other players while trying to maintain a really high quality play. It is like any other experience I've had just daily practices being gone. It consumes a lot of your life and I've had to sacrifice a lot for it, but it was absolutely worth it."

With volleyball done, Klassen stated she has a lot more free time and is looking at ways to fill it. As of right now Klassen noted focusing more on the academic side of school verse trying to balance both the athletics and academics while the seasons have been happening.

"I'm looking forward to using everything I've learned and put into different avenues of life now. Now I have more time to get involved in the community or just work on different hobbies," said Klassen.

According to Klassen, it's her plan to graduate this year, finding a job and continuing her life after playing volleyball at U of M for the past half decade.

Klassen stated she wouldn't be where she is today without the help and support from her family and from her teammates and coaches over the years.