JACKSON TWP — Bella Seman had seemingly traversed the entire region looking for the right fit.

From La Salle University in Philadelphia to American University in Washington D.C. to the University of Pittsburgh and to Kent State University in Ohio, Seman stepped onto campuses hoping to get that certain “feeling.”

She didn't get it.

And as time passed, the senior libero for the Seneca Valley girls volleyball team had a different kind of feeling growing and smothering her.

Pressure.

“I started the recruiting process in the spring of my freshman year,” Seman said. “It was so much stress. People were wondering why I hadn't committed early (like older sisters Catie and Angela).”

But Seman didn't want to commit simply to commit. She had a view of the bigger picture.

Finally, she got that “feeling” she so craved.

And it came at an unlikely place.

On her final college visit, Seman stepped onto the campus of Elon University in North Carolina and felt an instant connection.

“Ten minutes into the visit I knew that was where I wanted to go,” Seman said. “It looked like something out of a movie.”

Elon is also offering Seman the best of both worlds.

Seman will major in broadcast journalism and Elon has a solid program and a brand new TV studio. It will also offer her a chance to hit the volleyball court and contribute as a freshman.

“That was one of my big things. I didn't want to wait to play,” Seman said. “Other places, I would have had to wait to play for a couple of years.”

Playing volleyball is sort of the Seman family business.

Catie Seman recently wrapped up a stellar four-year career at the University of Rhode Island. Angela Seman is a starting red-shirt sophomore libero at Pitt.

As the youngest of the three sisters, Bella Seman grew up around volleyball and began playing in kindergarten.

Her parents, Mike and Susan Seman, though, didn't pressure her to follow in her big sisters' knee pads.

“They said, 'You don't have to play if you don't want to. You can chose your own path,” Bella Seman said. “But I love volleyball. I fell in love with the sport.”

While Catie was a hitter, Angela and Bella gravitated toward defense.

Bella Seman discovered that recruiting is not equal for all positions.

“Recruiting was also stressful as a defensive specialist,” Seman said. “A lot of the scholarship money goes to the hitters and not a lot to the libero.”

But Seman did get scholarship offers, which reinforced to her that she was worthy.

Seman also had opportunities to walk-on at Big Ten schools, but eschewed that for Elon.

She didn't want to major in volleyball.

“I wanted a place where I could play, but where I also could focus on other things,” she said. “With my major, I want to be on campus TV and I want to do a lot of internships. I won't be able to play volleyball forever.”

Seman said her parents and sisters helped her tremendously through the process.

“They have been a big influence on me, in volleyball and in life skills in general,” she said. “Catie and Ang have been helping me with what to expect from college volleyball.”

With her decision made, Seman is focused on helping Seneca Valley have another successful season.

“Oh, my, I'm so excited,” Seman said. “We definitely have high expectations this season. Hopefully we can make a long run in the WPIAL and hopefully in states.”