The 2023 Syracuse University Broadcast and Digital Journalism Graduate program included students who had very different backgrounds from one another. One student-athlete in particular, lit up the room, broke records, and is now giving back to the next generation of volleyball players at Syracuse in a sport where she can be considered the best to ever play for the Orange.
A three-time captain, the Syracuse University Volleyball all-time career kills leader (1,845), and master in broadcast digital journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Polina Shemanova can do it all.
From St. Petersburg, Russia, Shemanova was a member of the Russian Junior National team who finished in third place at the U18 World Championships. She was the MVP of the Russian Championships and started her career for the Orange winning the 2018 ACC Volleyball Freshman of the Year, helping guide the Orange to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and win.
In 2022, Shemanova was named First Team All-ACC and an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American all the while starting every set. She was drafted to the pro volleyball federation which will begin its inaugural season in February 2024. She currently serves as an Assistant Coach and Director of Operations for the Syracuse University Volleyball team.
At the highest level of academics and athletics, balancing both came down to time management, Shemanova said. “The further you go into your athletic career the harder it gets.” This past year, Shemanova says being a master’s student was hard to combine such a high level of academics and athletic competition, but time management helped continue on.
Now in a new role as a coach, Shemanova said she feels like every student athlete should try to coach at some point because of all of the knowledge and experience they have gained throughout their time as a player.
“I have the position and the power to direct the girls now,” Shemanova said. Applying her experience to the team in a positive way being a useful resource for the group. The new role has helped Shemanova prepare for the next step in her playing career for the Atlanta Vibe as a professional.
For Shemanova, it was a much smaller margin to earn a spot in the league because of the two player limit for international players on each roster. “I’ve been blessed that the coach called me to be a part of the team,” Shemanova said. Shemanova has signed a contract with the Vibe but says nothing is guaranteed unless she makes the starting roster of 14 players.
In the meantime, her playing experience will be bestowed on Syracuse University’s Volleyball team as well as any spot on the floor that is needed to be filled. Shemanova has tied in her undergraduate degree of earning a bachelor’s degree in communication & rhetorical studies as well as linguistic studies, with her Master’s Degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism to coaching, directing and communicating with the team. Serving as a role model for all of the Syracuse University Volleyball community.