From Washington University Athletics
Washington University in St. Louis head volleyball coach Vanessa Walby will lead the USA D-3 Women's Volleyball Team during a 10-day tour of Brazil June 6-15.
Walby will be coaching 10 NCAA Division III players that represent nine different colleges and universities. The team will play contests in the cities of Jundiai and Valinhos in the state of Sao Paulo on June 8 and 9, and then travel to Rio de Janeiro for two more contests on June 11 and 12. The USA D-3 Volleyball team will be competing against top U-22 club teams from the States of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
"I couldn't be more excited to head to Brazil and coach this team. I feel extremely fortunate to be given this amazing opportunity to coach 10 highly achieving young women, coach the sport I love and visit a country where volleyball is considered an "elite" sport," said Walby.
While in Brazil the team will experience educational, cultural and social aspects of Brazilian life through city, school and sports club visits. The team will be staying on the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, and touring the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain, two of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. The team will also visit sites and venues that will be hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
"I look forward to meeting our opponents, experiencing the culture, and seeing the sites of Brazil. I think it will honestly be a trip to remember…especially with the Olympics right around the corner," added Walby. "I would like to thank Ron Smith for asking me and for organizing this whole trip. He has given us the opportunity to have an extraordinary experience while participating in the sport we love!"
Walby led the Bears to a 34-3 overall record in 2015, and advanced to the NCAA Regional Championship for the 28th time in school history. WashU also won its 21st University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship. Walby has a 69-9 (.885) overall record in two seasons at WashU, and a 232-80 (.744) in eight seasons as a collegiate coach.