TicketsAug. 8, 2010
By Shawn Sell
GoBearcats.com
Once every four years, NCAA rules allow collegiate volleyball teams to travel to foreign lands during the summer months to compete against top players from other countries. Four years ago, the University of Cincinnati squad traveled to Italy and in June of this year, the team headed south for 12 days in Brazil. For the 10 players along with the coaching and support staff that made the trip, the experience was full of highlights both on and off the court.
The trip came about after months of planning and fundraising by the players and coaches. The coaching staff met with the 2010 seniors-to-be and the group decided that Brazil, known for its strong volleyball (gold medal winners in women's volleyball and silver in men's in the last Olympics) would be the ideal destination for the Bearcats. From there the wheels kicked into gear, with UC head coach Reed Sunahara turning to long-time friend Tim Kelly of Bring It Promotions to organize the trip.
"We asked our team and the seniors where they wanted to go, but also weighed where the best volleyball was," says UC assistant coach Erin Virtue. "Brazil just has phenomenal volleyball and on top of that it was a place that everybody wanted to see and visit. We were able to blend those two ideals together and we made our choice."
While in Brazil, the Bearcats chalked up many memories during both competition and traveling. The team's play on the court was especially impressive as the Bearcats won all seven of the matches they played. UC's opponents varied, from a squad of some of Brazil's best 16-year old players to a group of professionals in their 30's. For senior setter and team co-captain Annie Fesl, the challenge of playing a different style of volleyball will do nothing but help the Bearcats as they prepare for the 2010 season.
"We played a younger group of girls who were really good for how old they were and then we would turn around and play the next day against a group of older players," she says. "We just had to be ready for anything and everything.
"This trip was one of our best team bonding experiences," she continues. "The 10 girls that were on the trip grew so close from experiencing something together and being with each other for so long."
Throughout the trip, the 10 returning members of the 2010 Bearcat squad were able to further build their chemistry as they look towards the upcoming season. For assistant coach Virtue, one student-athlete whose play really stood out was that of sophomore middle blocker Jordanne Scott. Scott enjoyed a solid freshman season last fall, averaging 2.45 kills and 0.98 blocks per set, while hitting .291 and earning a pair of BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards. Virtue believes that Scott has the talent to be the next in a long line of outstanding middle blockers to don a Bearcat uniform.
"Towards the end of the trip, Jordanne really started to come out of her shell," Virtue says. "The sky is the limit for her potential. Every part of the year, I think she has really started to learn a lot about her potential. Her play by the end was awesome and she was just unstoppable. I hope she continues to realize she can reach those heights all the time."
While getting to experience volleyball in a foreign land, the Bearcats also got to take in the food and culture of the South American country. For Fesl, one of the things that stood out the most was the Brazilians love and interested in the World Cup, which was taking place during the team's trip.
"My favorite part of the entire experience was the soccer," she says. "It was so awesome seeing another country so in love with one thing and so united on that one thing. Every game, whether Brazil was playing or not, everybody was watching. When Brazil was playing, it was just insane. If you walked away from where people were watching, nobody was around or walking through the streets. It was really cool to experience being part of something so important to other people."
The Bearcats begin training with their first official team practice on Monday, August 9th. UC will get its first taste of outside competition during the annual Alumni Match on Saturday, August 21st and will open the season at the Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State on August 27th-28th.