It's a tiresome cliché, but all good things come to an end. For volleyball captain and senior Beth Perkins, the hourglass on her Gator athletic career has just about run out.

"I'm really sad. I love everyone and it's going to be weird to me, because I've been a volleyball player my whole life," said Perkins, 21, who will be graduating in less than three months. "It's bittersweet. For the next captain, I would just tell her to have fun while it lasts and live it up."

But as one great athlete leaves the team, another must carry the torch and responsibility of leader. One player who may succeed Perkins next season is freshman defensive standout Iris Tolenada.

"I think my performance will lead me to the captain position because setters have to be a leader on and off the court," said Tolenada, 18. "I want to be a better teammate by pushing someone else in the gym so they get better also; I want to see people at their full potential."

With key players such as Perkins and Tolenada, it's no miracle the Gator Women's Volleyball Team is ranked eighth in the region.

Barely two years old, SF State's volleyball team has fought its way to a solid position in the NCAA west. Though Tolenada and Perkins aren't the team's only tough players, they have stood out this season. Perkins thus far has notched a team-high 361 kills while also being named the CCAA's athlete of the week for Sept. 14-20. Tolenada has also left her mark on the defensive side of the net, recording 270 digs, currently the second highest on the team.

"Iris and Beth keep the game at a high level which allows them to play 100 percent," head coach Michelle Patton said.

As the lone senior and captain on the team, Perkins has had to play the leadership role in helping bring the team to a victorious season. Thus far, she has led her teammates to a 17-7 record, eclipsing last season's 13 total wins. She was last season's captain as well.

"Beth has been one of the most persistent players -- outside hitter is the go-to position and everyone knows when she's getting the ball," Patton said. "It's her last shot, she's the only senior and she wants to end on a high note."

Born into a family of coaches, Perkins has always been focused on the game.

"She was always an intense little kid," Teresa Perkins, Beth's mother, said. "We had to slow her down. She's crazy steady -- kind of machinist, and she comes to play every time."

For some, Perkins' title of captain comes as no surprise, as she has already earned her bachelor's degree in liberal studies while keeping her team focused.

"She handles stress really well," Teresa said. "When times get tough and difficult, she seems to be able to balance it and can handle it."

As for Tolenada succeeding Perkins as captain, nothing is set in stone, but her dedication to helping her teammates and her strong will may ultimately help her reach her goals.

"She doesn't give up for anything. Nothing is 'no' to her," Janet Tolenada, Iris' mother, said. "When the team is losing, that's when she plays harder."

Tolenada's attitude, along with her role as the team's setter, may propel her to the lofty status of captain.

"Setters are usually natural leaders for the most part," Patton said. "The ability to handle pressure and be responsible is what I'm looking for in a captain."

These two women have shown true dedication in their academics and with their team.

Staying focused and driven plus being able to handle pressure from all angles is the equation for being a great athlete and a leader. That is something that both the senior and freshman embody.

"One of those things that is great about Iris and Beth is that they have that high volleyball IQ," Patton said.