BRUNSWICK, Maine – The sixth-seeded Bowdoin College volleyball team will look to continue its postseason run this weekend as the Polar Bears travel to Colby College for the semifinal round of the NESCAC Championship. Bowdoin (17-9) will face top-seeded Colby (21-3) on Friday, November 13, at 5:00 p.m. at the Margaret M. Crook Center in Waterville, Maine. In Friday's other semifinal, second-seeded Wesleyan (21-2) will face fourth-seeded Middlebury (18-8) at 7:30 p.m.
The semifinal winners will meet for the NESCAC Championship on Saturday, November 14, at 3:00 p.m., with the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament at stake.
LIVE COVERAGE
All three matches of championship weekend will be streamed live and free of charge on the NESCAC Network, powered by the Northeast Sports Network. Additional tournament information is available on the NESCAC Championship website.
THE ROAD TO WATERVILLE
Bowdoin advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2023 with a thrilling five-set upset of third-seeded Tufts in last Saturday's quarterfinals. After falling behind two sets to one, the Polar Bears rallied to win the final two frames, 25-23 and 15-13, to eliminate the defending NESCAC champions. Alison Smith led the way with 20 kills, while Zoe Ryu added 15 kills and four service aces. Cameron Shelly contributed 35 assists and 16 digs, and Anna Yeh collected a team-high 18 digs.
The Polar Bears became just the fifth No. 6 seed in NESCAC Volleyball Championship history to reach the semifinals. Bowdoin enters Friday's contest having won seven of its last nine matches, including its first road victory over Tufts since 2017.
FAMILIAR FOES
Friday's matchup will pit the Polar Bears against a Colby team that claimed the top seed in the NESCAC Tournament for the second time in three seasons. The Mules earned hosting rights by finishing atop the conference standings and advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 sweep of eighth-seeded Hamilton last Saturday.
Colby has won three straight meetings in the rivalry, with Bowdoin's last victory over the Mules coming in Waterville during the 2023 NESCAC Tournament. The Mules have claimed six of the last seven matchups between the teams, a stretch that followed a remarkable run of 26 consecutive Bowdoin victories from 2006-2021.
POLAR BEARS BY THE NUMBERS
Alison Smith has emerged as a key offensive force for Bowdoin, recording 20 kills against Tufts for her second 20-kill performance of the season. Zoe Ryu has provided consistent production at the net, reaching double-digit kills 12 times this fall, while Cameron Shelly has directed the Polar Bear offense from the setter position. Shelly matched her season high with 35 assists in the quarterfinal victory and added 16 digs and three service aces. Bowdoin's balanced defensive effort was also on display against Tufts, as Anna Yeh (18), Shelly (16) and Kelsey Kim (10) all recorded double-digit digs. The Polar Bears also finished the match with nine service aces.
