Much like 19th-century writer Henry David Thoreau, Savannah Cambell has an affinity for nature.
And much like the author of “Walden” – Thoreau’s famous, oft-quoted chronicle of his two-plus years living off the grid in the 1800s, excerpts of which are staples of high-school English classes everywhere – Cambell’s love of nature has drawn her to rural Massachusetts, where the Mount Madonna School graduate now plays for the Endicott College women’s volleyball team.
The Gulls’ starting setter, Cambell spent her first two college volleyball seasons at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I. She performed well there, dishing out 277 assists in 36 matches.
Still, Cambell longed to be in an environment similar to Santa Cruz, which is close in proximity to beaches, mountains and forests. She thus left the urban setting of Johnson & Wales – which is located in Rhode Island’s capital and most populous city – for Endicott, another NCAA Division III school roughly 90 minutes north.
“I needed a change of space and energy,” Cambell said. “Endicott is surrounded by nature, and it’s right next to the beach. It felt like home.”
Cambell’s change of scenery appears to have done wonders for her game: Just 10 matches into her tenure at Endicott, she more than doubled her career assist total. In fact – perhaps serendipitously – the junior surpassed her two-year total from Johnson & Wales in Endicott’s three-set loss to UC Santa Cruz on Sept. 22.
“It’s very peaceful here,” Cambell said. “The outside world doesn’t stress me out.
“When I enter the gym, I’m able to think only about volleyball. That helps me put all my energy into my sport.”
Cambell now ranks among the Commonwealth Coast Conference’s leaders in assists: After passing out 39 in Endicott’s five-set win over Roger Williams University of Rhode Island on Oct. 6, Campbell was second in the conference in total assists with 441 and third in assists per set with an average of 8.17.
“She has a high volleyball IQ, and she’s a hard worker,” Endicott coach Tim Byram said. “She does a good job putting hitters in a position to be successful and continues to work hard at developing chemistry with her new hitters.”
In volleyball, the setter is roughly the equivalent of a quarterback in football or a point guard in basketball: Her duty is to find the player in the best position to score points and get the ball to that player – and she has to do it at a breakneck pace.
To that end, Cambell spends a great deal of time studying film and spending time with teammates off the court, whether just hanging out in their rooms watching college volleyball matches on TV or going on mini-golf outings with them.
“The big thing is, I always try to make connections off the court,” Cambell said. “I tried to bond with my teammates every single night during the preseason. It helps create a greater bond on the court because we trust each other.
“During double days, we spent the whole day with each other. We click – everyone has someone else’s back.”
Cambell excels in other aspects of volleyball as well: She leads Endicott in service aces with 31, having recorded at least four in five different matches. Defensively, Cambell ranks fourth on the Gulls in digs with 97.
A kinesiology major, Cambell eventually hopes to become a physical therapist. She dreams of opening a private practice and working with athletes.
For now, though, her focus is on leading Endicott to a Commonwealth Coast Conference title and an NCAA Division III tournament berth.
“If she continues to work hard on her skills and connecting with others, she’ll get us there,” Byram said. “She’s a great addition to our program.”
COUNTY CONNECTIONS
County Connections runs every other Thursday during the academic school year. If you have an update on a local college athlete, email Ray Hacke at raydhackelaw@gmail.com.
