In the highly competitive Prep League, few players command the court quite like senior captain Camellia Ding. As a dynamic athlete and powerful hitter, Ding makes her presence clear on the court. She’s played a big role in improving the team’s defense, helping them get the side out at every point.
With the departure of five seniors after the 2024 season, the Panthers needed someone to step up as a leader and keep the team on their successful track. Girls volleyball Head Coach Katrina Damasco stated, “Her four-year experience on the team has made her essential to the team. Her drive and competitiveness positively impact the team and make us better.”
This year, the varsity girls’ volleyball team, which has a commanding 16-4 overall record and an impressive 10-1 Prep League record as of Oct. 14, has a standout defense, focusing on their endurance and mental approach to the game.
Ding displayed dominance in the Panthers’ Oct. 7 Dig Pink win on the road against Chadwick, keeping their record undefeated at the time. However, the team suffered its first league loss on Oct. 14 against Flintridge Prep, who now share the champion league title with Poly.
Ding’s success hasn’t come out of nowhere. She started playing volleyball at nine years old and carried her experience and feel for the game into every year of high school, all of which contributed significantly to the team’s success. This year, she hopes to lead the team to its third Prep League championship.
Already having been selected three times for second-team All-Prep League, Ding has added to her resume this season by earning a spot on the all-tournament team for Poly’s annual invitational girls volleyball tournament earlier this fall. Ding’s presence on the court speaks beyond her awards. The Panthers’ young team, consisting mostly of underclass talent, looks up to Ding.
“Cam is such a role model to everyone on the team, especially me. She is the kind of player that makes everyone want to perform at their highest level,” shared freshman middle blocker Hannah Arrieta.
Junior middle blocker Matilda Labrucherie added, “We lost a lot of our starting players last year, as five seniors graduated. Despite this loss, we are currently undefeated in league and playing out an exciting season with lots of competitive games to look forward to.”
Ding, one of the most well-rounded players in the Prep League, plays all six rotations for her team, something not many players are able to do. She’s progressed greatly from last season, improving her back row defense and serve receive. She can always get the ball back, and her team relies on her to get the side out from both the front and the back row.
This season, Ding hopes to make a run deep into the playoffs – after winning the league, of course. Her volleyball career will not end at Poly, however, as she will attend NYU in the fall of 2026 to play volleyball for the Violets.
