Courtesy of Matt Taylor

On October 30, the Bowdoin volleyball team (15–9; 5–5 NESCAC) extended their win streak to five matches with a decisive three-set victory over Bates College (11–9; 2–8 NESCAC).

The Polar Bears took command of the match early with a team-high six kills from Zoe Ryu ’29 in the opening set. Following a 25–17 first set, Bowdoin held Bates to eight kills and a hitting percentage of 0.069 while making a dominant set-high 12 kills in the second set.

With two sets under their belt and a 13–10 lead midway through the third set, the Polar Bears went on a 12–3 tear to close out the match. The game concluded with an overall hitting percentage of 0.284 for the Polar Bears compared to Bates’ 0.021. Anna Yeh ’27 contributed a team-best 12 digs, while Molly Dunn ’30 and Cameron Shelly ’27 collectively added 32 assists.

Bowdoin’s place in the postseason NESCAC tournament was contingent on the team winning one of two games this past weekend, putting immense pressure on the matchup against Bates.

“We lost to Bates last year, and that was a game that revealed some weaknesses in our team,” Ryu said. “I think we came into the Bates gym … excited to earn our spot in the NESCAC tournament, so that was our strongest mental showing and we held steady against them the entire time.”

On Sunday, Bowdoin lost in three sets to nationally-ranked no. 25 Tufts University (18–7; 7–3 NESCAC), marking their last matchup of the regular season. Despite losing momentum early in the game, there was still cause for celebration, as Yeh surpassed 1,000 career digs in the first set.

“Honestly, with digs, you’re always getting them mid-play, so I was just focused on finishing and winning the point,” Yeh wrote in an email to the Orient. “After the game, though, it was so great to be celebrated by my teammates and the parents who came to watch. My dad also flew out from California to be there, which made it extra special.”

In addition to Yeh’s milestone, the players gained insight into their opponents before a highly anticipated rematch. The Polar Bears, seeded sixth in the NESCAC Championship tournament, will play third-ranked Tufts in the quarterfinals tomorrow, only a week after their loss.

Ryu said that mental toughness has been a defining attribute of the team’s season, particularly in Bowdoin’s reverse-sweep against Endicott after a heartbreaking weekend of five-set losses earlier in the season. The Polar Bears’ gritty mentality was also a crucial component in their 3–1 win against Wesleyan University (19–2; 8–2 NESCAC), a team that remains second in the conference and is ranked fourth in Division III volleyball.

Bowdoin’s proven ability to remain grounded and mentally determined will be paramount in the postseason.

“I think obviously Tufts is a daunting team to play,” Ryu said. “They won NESCACs last year and … beat us in the NESCAC quarterfinals last year, so I think there was mounted pressure on the game, even though we had already solidified our spot in the postseason.”

The upcoming quarterfinal presents an opportunity for Bowdoin to apply new strategies against the Jumbos. With postseason stakes higher, Yeh explained that the Polar Bears intend to establish confidence and composure early.

“I think the biggest thing we have taken away from this past weekend is that we need to be the aggressor right off the bat,” Yeh wrote. “Volleyball is a game of energy and momentum, and the team who takes up more room in the gym with their court presence will ultimately end up on top.”

The team hopes to translate this mindset into a more assertive performance, particularly against a Tufts squad with significant championship experience. Controlling the pace, Ryu said, will be critical to advancing in the tournament.

“We have the chance to … come back into this gym in front of presumably more people and show both Tufts and ourselves that the team that showed up last Saturday was not Bowdoin volleyball,” Ryu said. “We’re pumped that we get an extra week, and potentially more, to play volleyball and be with each other, and that’s an exciting opportunity.”