SEASON RECAP

Coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Polar Bears scuffled to a 4-6 start before coming up against nationally-ranked Johnson & Wales on Saturday, September 28. The Polar Bears picked up a 3-1 win that afternoon and didn't lose again the NESCAC Championship match on Nov. 10, rolling off a 14-1 record entering NCAA Tournament play.

Click below for an interview with senior Gabby Koenig

Bowdoin (21-7) earned an NCAA at-large bid thanks to their outstanding strength of schedule and strong second half of the season and cruised past Endicott, 3-0, in the opening round of their regional at Tufts last Friday. On Saturday they outlasted NESCAC rival Tufts in a 3-2 marathon victory and then bounced Johnson & Wales for the second time this season, 3-0, in Sunday's regional final.

SCOUTING THE POLAR BEARS

The Polar Bears have had numerous players earn conference, regional and national honors this season. Senior Caroline Flaharty was named Honorable Mention All-American by the AVCA this week after earning her fourth-straight All-Region honor. She is just the second player in school history with 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.

She was joined on the All-New England team by junior Ashley Williams and sophomore Cori Gray. Bowdoin's setting duties are split between junior Kate Kiser and first-year Ella Haugen while junior libero Emily King just surpassed 1,000 digs for her career.

Head coach Erin Cady is in her fifth season at Bowdoin and, with a 106-34 record (.757) is the top coach, by winning percentage, in school history. The Polar Bears have won two NESCAC titles and appeared in three NCAA Tournaments in her time as head coach, including two NCAA Quarterfinal appearances. Bowdoin is 8-2 in NCAA Tournament play under Cady, who was the head coach at Holy Cross for four seasons prior to coming to Brunswick.

QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UP

After facing three familiar foes in the regional last weekend, Bowdoin is jumping into the unknown at the national site, as the Polar Bears have not faced any of their fellow potential NCAA Quarter-finalist opponents this season.

The Polar Bears are seeded fifth and will face Carthage (Wis.) (30-3), who won the CCIW Championship and knocked off fifth-ranked Claremont Mudd Scripps and second-ranked Chicago to reach the NCAA Quarterfinals. Seeded fourth at the finals site, Carthage was ranked fourth in the latest AVCA Division III poll.