Courtesy of Brian Beard

The Bowdoin volleyball team (14–8; 4–4 NESCAC) extended its winning streak to four matches this past Saturday, defeating Lasell University (13–12) and Wellesley College (12–9) in its final nonconference matches of the regular season. The Polar Bears secured their fifth sweep of the season against Lasell before winning in four sets against Wellesley.

Bowdoin opened the doubleheader with a three-set victory over Lasell, winning 25–22, 25–21 and 27–25. For setter Cameron Shelly ’27, the team’s consistency reflected its progress throughout the season.

“I think we took care of business pretty well,” Shelly said. “There were some ups and downs, as there always are, but overall, it was the most steady that I’ve seen us play. We did a good job just channeling ourselves and playing how we know we can play.”

The opening match was special for Daley Hartnack ’30, who made her collegiate debut in the second set and recorded two service aces as well as two digs. Entering the match with Bowdoin trailing Lasell, Hartnack sought to bring renewed energy to the court.

“Stepping on the court for the first time in a game where we were down was honestly nerve-racking, but I knew I had my team’s full support behind me,” Hartnack wrote in an email to the Orient. “My mindset was to go in there, shake things up, bring some new energy and just play super consistently and aggressively.”

The Polar Bears carried their momentum into the second match against Wellesley, taking the opening sets 25–16 and 25–17. Wellesley responded by claiming the third set, forcing Bowdoin to regroup before securing the four-set victory.

While Bowdoin started strong, according to Zoe Ryu ’29, the setback exposed a moment of complacency, prompting the team to refocus.

“In the third set, we were like, ‘Okay, they came to play,’” Ryu said. “They’re in a competitive conference, too, and just because it’s not one of our conference games, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t put 100 percent effort in. Going into the fourth set, it was just a sharper focus. It was like, ‘Okay, we’re going to win this now.’”

Beyond the players’ mental fortitude, they relied on offensive versatility throughout the doubleheader. Shelly, who recorded 20 assists in each match, adjusted her distribution to account for the opposing teams’ blocking while creating opportunities for different hitters.

“The name of the game is making sure everyone is involved because it keeps the opponents on their toes and keeps them surprised,” Shelly said. “If you keep going to the same person, that’s predictable. The goal is to be unpredictable and play to everyone’s strengths.”

While the victories demonstrated Bowdoin’s ability to adapt, players also credited their recent success to the relationships they have cultivated throughout the season. Ryu emphasized that the team’s strongest performances come when players maintain an encouraging atmosphere.

“We don’t play well [when we’re] frustrated,” Ryu said. “When we’re having fun, when we’re laughing, that’s the version of Bowdoin volleyball that’s the best. It makes you want to play for everyone else. You want to be better, you want to be loud, you want to do as much as you can for the people around you—knowing that they would do the exact same thing for you.”

That collective positive mentality has been particularly meaningful for Bowdoin’s first-years. Hartnack credited the upperclassmen with helping younger players adjust to collegiate competition by fostering an environment where everyone feels valued.

“The upperclassmen really focused on incorporating the freshmen into the team dynamic quickly and making us feel so welcome,” Hartnack wrote. “We have such a goofy community, which you can see in our celebrations and cheers. They really emphasized how everyone on the team has a place, and the seniors’ contributions to BVB will be missed so much.”

Following Friday’s Senior Night, the doubleheader carried additional significance for the team’s graduating players. Shelly reflected on the importance of supporting teammates across class years and maintaining the culture that has developed throughout time at Bowdoin.

“You can say we’re a family—we’re a family all you want—but to actually put it into action and support and be selfless with all your teammates, no matter their age or their position, is something that we’ve honed in on,” Shelly said.

The Polar Bears will conclude their regular season on the road against Bates College (11–7; 2–6 NESCAC) on Friday and Tufts University (16–7; 5–3 NESCAC) on Saturday, with both matches carrying implications for their NESCAC postseason standing.

Hartnack hopes the team can maintain the intensity and camaraderie that have contributed to its recent success.

“I’m hoping we carry forward our starting set momentum, since earlier in the season we struggled to win the first set,” Hartnack wrote. “I’m also hoping we continue to bring our loud communication, all-out defense and the silliness we bring to the bench and court that makes playing so fun. These games are super important, so I’m hoping we can tap into the aggressor mentality we’ve had over the past four games and really hone in on finishing the game.”