By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She was a regular visitor to Bridgewater State University volleyball games as a spectator from 2018-22.

Natalie Fredriksen (Plymouth, Mass.) was in junior high school and high school when she would go to the Tinsley Center to watch her aunt, Becca Whalen, play for the Bears as a hitter.

"I went to almost every home game," recalls Fredriksen. "I'd go to the games and the pot-lucks (dinners) afterwards."

So Frederiksen was well aware about all the ins and outs of Bridgewater State volleyball and the school.

That came in handy when she was looking for a college in 2024.

After helping to start a volleyball team at the Rising Tide Charter School as a sixth-grader, then playing four high school seasons at Sturgis East in Hyannis, Mass., Fredriksen wanted to keep playing in college.

Bridgewater State was the perfect match for her, so she enrolled as a geography and environmental science and sustainability major in the fall of '24 and earned a spot as a setter on the volleyball team.

"I had a lot of family members go here," said Fredriksen. "I definitely liked the vibes on the team. I could definitely tell the relationship between the coaching staff and players was definitely an environment that I would want to put myself in.

"I just have a lot of faith in the Bears. Bridgewater just felt like home."

Fredriksen played sparingly as a freshman in '24, situated behind senior Bethany Votta and Xin Ai Robinson at the setter position.

She appeared in only 10 matches, getting into 20 sets, and was fourth on the team with 48 assists to go with 36 digs when BSU won the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament and reached the NCAA Division III tourney for the first time since 2008.

This season, with Votta having finished her eligibility after getting 1,126 career assists, sophomore Fredriksen is teaming with Robinson to maintain BSU's solid one-two punch at the setter spot.

The Bears are 9-3 and tied for first place in the MASCAC at 3-0, and Fredriksen is playing a key role as she received playing time on a full-time basis.

Fredriksen ranks second on the team and ninth in the conference wtih 140 assists in 11 matches, averaging 3.59 perset. Robinson is seventh in the MASCAC and first on the team with 208 assists.

A year ago, Votta led the team with 350 assists (and she finished ninth on the all-time BSU list) with Robinson second at 263 assists. There was a void to fill with Votta gone this season, and Fredriksen has stepped right in as a sophomore.

"I got a little bit of playing time last year, but with Bethany and Xin, there wasn't that much playing time for me," said Fredriksen, who dealt with a wrist injury as a freshman. "This year, the opportunity opened up and I'm definitely grateful for that."

Fredriksen said playing behind Robinson, who is now a junior, and Votta was a tremendous boost for a first-year player going from high school to college.

"It was great,'' she said. "It really helped me settle in and find my way from being the star at my high school to being just a freshman who doesn't get a lot of playing time.

"It can be really intimidating. They really helped me feel comfortable and welcome and pushed me to do my best and reassured me that I deserve to be here on this team.

"I definitely learned a lot. Bethany and Xin were role models. We have a tradition called 'Bub Bear Cubs,' like a little sister, big sister. Beth was our big sister last year.''

Fredriksen has a long connection with volleyball, following her aunt.

When she was starting junior high, Fredriksen helped form the volleyball team at Rising Tide as a sixth grader.

"I loved the sport from watching my aunt for so many years,'' said Fredriksen. "I got the program going at Rising Tide and I just never stopped playing.

"There wasn't a team there. I had a lot of other girls who were interested as well. We needed one of the teachers willing to be a coach. No one had (playing) experience but everyone wanted to be involved in the program.''

From there, Fredriksen played at Sturgis East on Cape Cod and followed closely as her aunt played at BSU in 2018 and 2019, and after the 2020 season was wiped out due to COVID, in 2021 and 2022.

Two years later, Fredriksen was suiting up for the Bears with Whalen returning to campus to watch her niece play at the Tinsley Center.

"A lot of the girls on the team (the last two seasons) got to play with my aunt," said Fredriksen. "I would watch them play and now, getting to play with them is great.

"I was able to play with my aunt (in the summer). We did outdoor grass tournaments. It helped me become a better overall volleyball player and focus less on positions."

BSU coach Tony da Silveira has watched Fredriksen improve from her freshman season to now as she takes advantage of increased playing time to help the Bears get off to their best start in 20 years.

"She's done a real good job," he said. "She's a lot more focused. Coming in as a freshman, she knew there were people in front of her. She's definitely more comfortable and is communicating better on the court.

"She's probably one of the best servers on the team and is picking up her defense."

Fredriksen knew there would be the chance to play more as a sophomore and put in the preparation coming into the season.

She reported to camp in August ready to go and has been a valuable contributor in a season that has already moved past the midway point.

"I'd say I definitely have improved this year," said Fredriksen. "It's my sense of confidence. Last year, I was timid and felt like the freshman on the court.

"This year, I feel like I'm an integral part of the team and everyone is relying on me, so it pushes me to be better and better for them and keep improving. It's pushed me to play even harder and work harder to maintain our (MASCAC) title."