Why Shadwick’s Final Season is Her Best

Abby Shadwick ’25 had tasted glory in each of her first three seasons with the Raiders, all while making an impact on the success of the program. But in 2024, the senior outsider saved the best for last.

Not only did the Lexington, Ky., native hoist her fourth Patriot League championship trophy in as many years, she added two more awards to her shelf — tournament MVP and Scholar Athlete of the Year.

A day after the conference title game on Nov. 24, Shadwick was still on cloud nine as she reflected on her final season with Colgate Volleyball.

“Each year has felt so different,” she said. “Each team has been so different and so special in its own way. Yes, we are Colgate Volleyball, but with the new incoming freshmen and seniors that leave, it really is a brand new team each year and that makes each win special in its own way.  Of course, the four for four, it’s surreal to be closing our chapter in the Patriot League that way.”

Shadwick was named the best player of the Patriot League tournament after leading Colgate with 19 kills and 15 digs in the championship  match where the Raiders fell 2-1 before storming back to take the next three sets against Army to win the title for the fourth consecutive year. 

“I definitely was not expecting it,” Shadwick said of the MVP award. “I have my teammates to thank for inspiring me to play so hard. Everyone played so hard, Army as well. Hats off to them. Everyone knew what was on the line and everyone really put it all out there on the court.”

Shadwick, an art & art history major, won the Scholar Athlete of the Year award for a second consecutive season, becoming the first player in program history to double up on the major award. Despite excelling in the classroom, she wasn’t expecting to receive the award again.

“Nobody is as surprised as I am,” she said. “I was so thankful to receive so much support from teammates and family alike.”

Her head coach, Ryan Baker, said Shadwick has evolved over the years to become a special player. Her greatest growth, he said, has been in her attacking and her confidence. 

“In my opinion, this has been Abby's best season, especially dealing with some early-season illness and injuries,” Baker said. “We really challenged her to just play free, enjoy the moment, and make match adjustments when they were needed. It was such a joy watching her compete, lead, and enjoy the game. Her last season of play has been incredible and I'm loving her approach to the match.”

Shadwick will graduate as a three-time All-Patriot League First Team honoree, two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and three-time Patriot League All-Academic selection. 

Overall, her final season will close one of the most decorated careers in Colgate and Patriot League history that was beyond anything she could have imagined as a 17-year-old girl who committed to a college in a new state far from home. 

In Kentucky, Shadwick was an exceptional volleyball athlete, playing for her high school and a club team. When she began the search for a college, her club team coach, who had a reputation for guiding his players to the right school, recommended Colgate. 

Shadwick wasn’t familiar with Colgate and had never before set foot in New York. But once her club coach connected her with Baker, it wasn’t long before Colgate rose to the top of her list. 

She committed to Colgate after a campus tour. During her visit, she got the chance to see the Raiders win a match over American in front of its lively fan base, an experience that left an impression on Shadwick. 

Shadwick wanted a college that provided a balance of academics and athletics — and Colgate offered just that. Another draw was the opportunity to contribute not just to the volleyball program, but to the campus as a whole. 

In addition, Colgate offered the chance to study and play volleyball in a place far different from her hometown.

“I don’t think 17-year-old Abby knew what she was getting herself into,” she said. “I was going so far from home, but in a good way. Going farther north, being in a new state, being surrounded by new people, knowing no one. I think I have grown so much year to year. I would not have been able to replicate that by staying in my comfort zone.”

Colgate’s liberal arts curriculum was another draw. 

“I felt Colgate was a place, with the liberal arts foundation, where I could explore different subjects and not feel cooped up. I have a variety of interests. Colgate does a great job of recruiting people who think very differently and engage in open dialogue with not only ourselves but with professors. The small class sizes were huge for me.”

While art was her favorite subject in high school, she wasn’t expecting to study that subject in college. But as she explored her options, art & art history became tough to pass up.

“Art and art history is one big fascinating world of scholarly conversation, where a piece of art could mean to you what it means to you,” she said. “There’s so much reading and writing that I also really enjoy doing. There is so much to learn, not only about American art but art across the world. I feel I have learned so much political, historical context through what art can teach us.”

While her courses and volleyball eat up a chunk of her schedule, she found time for other activities, such as working as a gallery attendant on campus and becoming a peer note taker in Italian courses. 

She also interned at a museum in Lexington and an art gallery in Washington, D.C. Her experience at the museum exposed her to the ins-and-outs of operating such an establishment and setting up exhibits. While she may pursue additional education after Colgate, she wants to gain work experience in the art field, a decision that was cemented following her internship at the museum.

Shadwick said a crucial part of her success in the classroom was taking advantage of all resources that are available for student-athletes. For instance, she made the best of one-on-one time with professors, along with turning to career services and the research librarians for help. 

In 2021, her first season with Colgate, Shadwick played in 28 matches, which included eight starts. She earned playing time on a talented roster that featured some of Colgate’s most decorated student-athletes. 

Each year, the team won the regular season title before winning the conference championship and advancing to the NCAA tournament. Each of those seasons was a learning opportunity for Shadwick. 

Baker said Shadwick arrived at Colgate with rock-solid fundamentals from a state that’s known for producing top volleyball players.

“Kentucky is a hotbed for volleyball,” he said. “The state is known for gritty, well-trained players who make big impacts in the college game. We often didn't have any luck landing a player from there, but boy are we happy we got Abby.”

Baker applauded Shadwick for taking on a lot of things and excelling at all of them. 

“She's arguably the best six-rotation left in the league, a model student, and an all around kind and compassionate human being who is always there to talk to,” he said. “She is the consummate student-athlete and represents our program and Colgate so well.”

By winning the conference, the Raiders have qualified for the NCAA tournament, which kicks off on Dec. 5. For Shadwick, these postseason matches will be her final times suiting up in maroon-and-white. 

She’s excited for another shot at the big stage. She’s hoping for another memorable match before she completes her collegiate volleyball career.

“I’m just ready to completely empty myself for the team,” she said. “We will take it one day of training at a time and believe in ourselves and believe in our coaches. That’s the best mentality we could take going into the postseason. We hope to cause a little chaos in the brackets.”