They stay around long enough for fans to get to know them, long enough to develop their skills. Heck, there are some fans at Georgia who can even tell the Miller twins apart. That would be Kelly and Coco, part of a loaded senior class. So is Svetlana Abrosimova, who played for Russia in the Sydney Olympics. Tasha Pointer will cause more problems for Rutgers opponents, and Big 12 teams still must find a way to stop Iowa State's Megan Taylor.
Fans are able to follow somebody for four years.
It creates an awful lot of excitement as it gets to their senior year. I think we're very fortunate in that respect. As much as fans like seeing veteran players, coaches like them even more. It must be really, really difficult when your roster's turning over as quickly as it does sometimes on the men's side. You're almost forced into a situation where you have to start recruiting the replacement the day you sign them.