Outside hitter Isabel Adam ’28 has been lighting it up for the Swarthmore volleyball team this fall. She came into this season with extensive on-court experience, playing in all but one game in her first two years at Swarthmore, and earning All-Centennial Honorable Mention, All-Centennial Second Team, and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Honorable Mention honors in the process.
This year, Adam’s talents on offense have remained undeniable, with career highs in high percentages at 0.260 and kills per set at 3.54, but where she has shined the most has been on the defensive end. Playing a larger role on the team’s back row, she has nearly doubled her career total for digs this season, giving her an impressive (and also career high) 3.20 digs per set, and earning a Centennial Defensive Player of the Week nod. However, despite Adam’s increased focus on defense, she also earned a Centennial Offensive Player of the Week award for the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1. This makes her the only player in the Centennial Conference this year to earn a player of the week on both sides of the ball. Adam hails from Mill Valley, CA. She is a graduate of Marin Catholic High School and is a political science major, and is minoring in philosophy and French.
After winning a tough match against Haverford 3-2, Swarthmore has one conference game remaining on Nov. 7 against Franklin & Marshall College. They hope to end the season undefeated in conference play, which would guarantee that they would host the Centennial Conference tournament. The Phoenix caught up with Adam on Monday, Nov. 2 to talk more about this season.
Charlie Watson: How do you feel about the team going into this final conference matchup? Any expectations for conference playoffs or the NCAA tournament?
Isabel Adam: I think we’re just trying to keep the same energy and momentum we’ve had all season. We’re a really motivated group, especially after coming up short the past couple of years. What’s been really exciting this season is the combination of our upperclassmen bringing another year of experience and our freshmen coming in and exceeding expectations. They’ve made such a big impact right away. I think that mix of experience and new energy has been really important for us. We know what it feels like to come up short, and I think everyone is really determined to not let that happen again. We are really excited about what is ahead, but we are also really focused on taking it one game at a time.
[Editors’ Note: Junior opposite Keira Miles ’28 walked by the interview and we invited her to share her thoughts.]
Keira Miles: I think the team is in a really good place. We’re all excited, this is the strongest start we’ve ever had to a season, and I feel proud of all my teammates and the work and the effort everyone has put in this season. Everyone has worked really hard, and it has paid off.
CW: Congrats on your Centennial Defensive Player of the Week nomination of the season. How do you feel receiving the award, and how do you feel about it in relation to the season so far?
IA: Freshman year, I only played front row, but I always wanted the opportunity to play back row too. I finally got that chance midway through last season, and ever since then I have really been working on improving my defense. I honestly love playing all six rotations because I get to contribute in multiple different ways, and sometimes that’s hitting out of the back row and helping set my teammates up for success from there. Mel [Eyer ’28] is Defensive Player of the Week all the time, and she makes my job back there really easy, so I’m trying to do everything I can to cover my area of the back court and get a touch on every possible ball. At the end of the day, I just want to put our front row in the best position to be successful. It’s been really fun developing that side of my game, and it’s nice to see the hard work pay off.
[Editors’ Note: Adams received Centennial Offensive Player of the Week the day after this interview was conducted.]
CW: Now an upperclassman, do you find yourself holding yourself to a higher standard, or has anything else changed after having a couple of years under your belt?
IA: This year, I’ve definitely made more of a conscious effort to step up as a leader and role model. As an underclassman, I was really lucky to have some amazing upperclassmen who set such a great example for me, both on and off the court. I want to carry that same energy forward and be that person for our underclassmen, especially since we have so many younger players on the team this year. I think a big part of leadership is leading by example, whether that’s through my work ethic, attitude, or how I support my teammates. It’s definitely something I’m still learning and working on every day, but I really want to have the same positive impact on our younger players that the upperclassmen before me had on me.
CW: How do you think your on-court leadership has grown during your time at Swarthmore?
IA: I think being on the court all the time has definitely taught me to hold myself to a higher standard, especially knowing that my teammates are looking to me. Something I’ve been telling myself all season is to just fake it ’til I make it, especially when it comes to my energy and confidence. Whether I’m having a great game or can’t seem to put a ball away, I try to make sure I’m bringing the same energy to every point. I think I’ve realized that my attitude can have a big impact on the people around me, so even when I’m frustrated with myself, I try not to let that show or affect how I support my teammates. I definitely haven’t perfected it, but I think learning to stay consistent and positive, regardless of how I am personally playing, has been one of the biggest ways I have grown as a leader.
CW: What is your hottest take about Swarthmore or Swat’s campus?
IA: My hottest take is that fall at Swat is better than spring at Swat. I know everyone gets excited when the weather starts getting warmer, but I think campus is so much prettier in the fall. The leaves changing colors, the weather, and just the overall vibe of campus are so much better.
[Editors’ Note: At this point, sophomore Setter Maya Sheridan ’29 walked by the interview, and we also invited her to add her own thoughts]
Maya Sheridan: Cornell is a nice place to study! I always get made fun of by people on our team for studying there. People on our team love to make fun of Cornell. Also… [Swarthmore is] lowkey a party school. It is what you make of it.
CW: What’s something you are better than 99% of the population at?
IA: I would say parallel parking; I can parallel park really well.
MS: Knitting the wrong way, apparently. According to Erin Picken [’27] I knit the wrong way.
CW: What was your “major that got away?”
IA: I think I would have to say art history. I’ve always loved art and going to museums, and I think it would be really cool to learn more about the history and stories behind different pieces. It’s definitely something I wish I had more time to explore.
