Shemanova Signs First Professional Contract
6/1/2023 4:02:00 PM | Volleyball
Polina Shemanova, one of the best players in Syracuse volleyball history, signed her first professional contract in the newly founded Pro Volleyball Federation. Shemanova, a two-time AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection will begin her career in Atlanta when the league begins its inaugural season in February 2024.
"No words can explain how happy I am to begin my professional volleyball career in the United States!" Shemanova said. "I was contemplating if I should start my pro volleyball career overseas or stay in the U.S. and start my career in broadcasting. How lucky am I to have the opportunity to do both? Syracuse has given me a solid foundation in volleyball and academics to pursue this next step. I am so proud to be the first Orange representative in PVF!"
The 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year spent four years with the Orange. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2022 and is currently completing a master's degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse's prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Shemanova is a four-time AVCA All-Region Selection, three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and finished her career at Syracuse's all-time leader in career kills with 1,845 this past fall during her graduate season. As a freshman, Shemanova helped guide the Orange to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and NCAA Tournament win in program history.
"We are very happy for Polina to fulfill her dream to play professionally and doing it in the United States is even better," Syracuse head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam said. "Polina is an established player for our program, she is one of the best in Syracuse history, and we are excited for her to have this opportunity. We wish her the best and are looking forward to following her career as a professional athlete."
Shemanova was named All-ACC First Team in 2018, 2019 and 2022 and was an All-ACC Second Team selection in 2021. Her name is plastered through the Syracuse record books and the St. Petersburg, Russia, native holds multiple program records for kills per set (5.16), kills in a game (36) and holds the freshman and sophomore records for kills in a season recording 447 and 485, respectively.
The PVF is set to begin in February 2024 and will be comprised of eight or more teams with 14 players per team and a 16-game schedule. To learn more about the Pro Volleyball Federation, visit the PVF website here.
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"No words can explain how happy I am to begin my professional volleyball career in the United States!" Shemanova said. "I was contemplating if I should start my pro volleyball career overseas or stay in the U.S. and start my career in broadcasting. How lucky am I to have the opportunity to do both? Syracuse has given me a solid foundation in volleyball and academics to pursue this next step. I am so proud to be the first Orange representative in PVF!"
The 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year spent four years with the Orange. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2022 and is currently completing a master's degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse's prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Shemanova is a four-time AVCA All-Region Selection, three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and finished her career at Syracuse's all-time leader in career kills with 1,845 this past fall during her graduate season. As a freshman, Shemanova helped guide the Orange to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and NCAA Tournament win in program history.
"We are very happy for Polina to fulfill her dream to play professionally and doing it in the United States is even better," Syracuse head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam said. "Polina is an established player for our program, she is one of the best in Syracuse history, and we are excited for her to have this opportunity. We wish her the best and are looking forward to following her career as a professional athlete."
Shemanova was named All-ACC First Team in 2018, 2019 and 2022 and was an All-ACC Second Team selection in 2021. Her name is plastered through the Syracuse record books and the St. Petersburg, Russia, native holds multiple program records for kills per set (5.16), kills in a game (36) and holds the freshman and sophomore records for kills in a season recording 447 and 485, respectively.
The PVF is set to begin in February 2024 and will be comprised of eight or more teams with 14 players per team and a 16-game schedule. To learn more about the Pro Volleyball Federation, visit the PVF website here.
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