If you’ve ever been to a CMU volleyball game, you know the routine. You know that when senior libero Megan Rush steps up to the service line, a familiar “Ruuusssshhhhh” is shouted from the stands as soon as she puts the ball into play. It’s something that fans of the game have to come to expect and look forward to.

Tuesday night marked the last night of the Rush era, in in a loss against the No. 12 Orediggers (21-25, 22-25, 19-25) in the first round of the RMAC Championships.

“Is it how I wanted to go out? No,” Rush said. “Our record may not have shown it, and our loss first round of RMAC didn’t show it, but anyone who watched us play regularly knows we had unbelievable talent on this team. Our issues were confidence and consistency. This team could have, and I believe should have, won the RMAC tournament. I love my teammates, and it was a great season as a team, but I’m not happy with how we ended it, and I’m not even slightly ready to be done.”

Rush ended her career as a Mav with 1,409 total digs, 189 assists and 107 aces. Rush also earned a spot on the 2012 All-RMAC Second Team and is the top defensive player in the league.

“Our block was great this year,” Rush said. “They funneled the hitters right to me, and that makes defense a lot easier. It’s a great honor to be recognized for a personal award, but at the end of the day, I am part of a team, and any award that my teammates and I get is a team award.”

Although her time as a Mav is up, Rush does not foresee herself ending her relationship with volleyball altogether. Since beginning the sport in fifth grade, Rush has obtained a large degree of valuable knowledge of the sport, as well as a true love for the game.

“Ideally, I’d love to coach and teach,” Rush said. “I have a passion for volleyball that I’d love to be able to continue to use.”

Rush is currently a coach for Mesa Juniors Volleyball Company, formally Thunder Volleyball Club. She has also been working with the same group of girls since she began coaching a few years ago. As an Elementary Education major, Rush hopes to continue coaching in the future, along with having a career teaching young children.

“I’m from a big extended family,” Rush said. “Lots of cousins, and I’m right in the middle. I’ve always absolutely loved children and babysitting. I’m really good with little kids.”

Even though Rush isn’t leaving volleyball altogether, the transition from player and coach to simply coach will be one for getting used to. Rush will no longer have the comrardary of the team, nor the road and home games she’s gotten accustomed to over the past four years at CMU.

“Being a part of the team is the greatest thing ever, especially being an out-of-towner,” Rush said. “The team becomes your family. Volleyball-wise, I will absolutely miss defense the most. The feeling of going up against the best hitters in the country and digging her, getting a good set and winning the point, there’s nothing like it. As crazy as it sounds, I never thought I’d say this, I will miss hitting the floor. As bruised and cut up my hips have gotten, I will miss having to hit the floor to get a ball up that no one thought would get up.”

Rush’s time on the court has not been without its share of troubles and consequences. As a libero, Rush is constantly hitting the floor, diving for balls and doing whatever she can to keep the ball in play and come up with a point for her team.

“I’m not ready to be done, but my body is,” Rush said. “I will have my hip labrum surgery over Christmas break and I’m extremely grateful that I was able to make it through another season with it holding up.”