Courtesy of Brian Beard

It’s not often for Bowdoin athletic teams that their first competition of the season is as significant as the Bear Invite, hosted by Washington University at St. Louis (WashU), was for the women’s volleyball team (2–1; 0–0 NESCAC). The weight of the tournament was not lost on setter Cameron Shelly ’27.

“The Bear Invite this past weekend was an incredible opportunity to face stiff out-of-conference opponents, as well as expand our name to other parts of the nation in hopes to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament,” Shelly wrote in an email to the Orient. “We showed great depth to our team, something that will be crucial in the later months of [the] season. We have high expectations for this season, and the work ethic in the gym definitely reflects this.”

In her fourth year playing for Bowdoin women’s volleyball, Shelly is once again off to a strong start. In the tournament’s three matches, Shelly paced the team with 78 assists and tacked on six total attacks with one kill for good measure. Beyond her individual performance, Shelly, as the setter for the Polar Bears, also has to call plays for the rest of her teammates to follow.

“To those who are not familiar with volleyball, I describe my position as a quarterback given creative freedom,” Shelly wrote. “This means that before every serve, I am signaling to my hitters on the court which route I want them to run. These calls are based on a multitude of factors, from blocking vulnerabilities of the other team, to the strategic use of one of my hitters to fake out the blockers to feeding whoever is putting down the most points. Success in my position is when one of our hitters goes up to hit and has one or no blockers. I really love my job because it is constantly changing and strategic.”

Shelly isn’t the only volleyball player in her family, nor is she the only setter. Her prowess in the position follows in her sibling’s footsteps.

“My older sister, Payton, first introduced me to volleyball,” Shelly wrote. “She was a setter, so naturally, setting was the position I was most familiar with and thus pursued. I have spent a few sporadic seasons as a right side hitter, but setting has always been my main position.”

For any student-athlete at Bowdoin, progressing academically and athletically means staying busy. Shelly is no exception to this, noting her weekly routine.

“In season, I have class and lift twice a week during the day,” Shelly wrote. “Around 4 [p.m.], I head to the gym to set up nets, do any necessary PT and get ready for practice from 5 to 7 [p.m.]. Then, the team and I head to Thorne for dinner and [Hawthorne-Longfellow library] after for homework. Fridays and Saturdays are our game days, and we are either home or away for both matches. Then Sunday is a day for rest and homework before we pick back up on Monday.”

The work Shelly puts into volleyball extends beyond what happens at the gym; being a setter requires analyzing opponents’ strategies and developing offensive strategies, among other responsibilities.

“Balancing the mental and physical aspects of the game is a hard task, one that I still get hung up on today,” Shelly wrote.“I have learned to combat decision paralysis and information overload through trust. I know that if I put up a bad ball or make an error, there are five other talented people on the court that have my back and can recover my mistake. If I start to feel tense, I look to my teammates, who are constantly smiling and supporting one another, reminding me that success happens together.”

The Polar Bears’ strong start to the season has set expectations high for Shelly. The team’s performance at the Bear Invite and games featuring divisional rivalries mean her senior season looks to be an exciting one.

“We are always looking to win NESCACs and get a bid to the NCAAs. As far as matchups, I am looking forward to facing Williams this year,” Shelly wrote. “We had a really tight game last year where both sides played absolutely lights out. After going abroad, I now have a few friends at Williams and on the team, so it’s even higher stakes now.”