Sophomore Elizabeth Wilson (left)
and junior Faith Rowles.
CHRISTA SCHROEDEL / THE DEPAUW
While the season for the women’s volleyball team is over, junior setter Faith Rowles and sophomore hitter Elisabeth Wilson have been given the unique opportunity to play for the USA Select League in Brazil this summer.
“I didn’t apply for it,” Wilson said. “An invitation got sent to out to the all-regional players, so Coach [Zellers] forwarded it to me after we got back from the NCAA’s and said I’ve been invited to go. From what I understand, it’s basically a college club team that gets to travel to Brazil.”
It’s the program’s sixth year taking division III college athletes to Brazil in multiple sports, including soccer, volleyball and basketball. Senior basketball player Tommy Fernitz, who plays on the men’s basketball team, participated in the same trip for basketball last summer.
“I actually didn't really know much about it. I knew that Tommy got invited to it for basketball but I didn't know it was offered for volleyball as well,” Rowles said. “I received an email a couple of days ago telling me I was invited along with Elisabeth Wilson… we are beyond honored to have been offered a roster spot.”
The email sent out to Wilson and Rowles states that their goal of the trip is to “expose some of our USA players to some of the best volleyball in the world while growing educationally, culturally and socially.”
Like many extended studies programs in which DePauw athletes participate, the focus will not just be on playing volleyball.
“We'll also be going around to see the sights, staying on Cabana Beach, and we'll be going to just travel,” Wilson said.
The program takes the team to Brazil from June 7th to the 16th. They will also be meeting in Orlando before the trip to meet with their teammates, hold practice, and get to know their coach for the trip, who, according to the email sent out will be Mika Robinson from Berry College.
Robinson has some history with the Tigers as her Berry Vikings defeated the Tigers in their second game of the season this year.
“We’re travelling to various cities playing different teams almost every day,” said Rowles. “There’s also a men’s team that will be coming with us.”
Volleyball is the second most popular sport in Brazil behind soccer, and are the top ranked team in the “senior women’s world rankings,” according to the email Rowles and Wilson received.
“We're going to be playing some of the top club teams in Brazil,” said Wilson. “They haven't gotten the schedule together yet, but I know in Brazil volleyball is the second biggest sport, so it's very popular, and I know we're playing a couple clubs teams and then I think an adult team.”
For Wilson, this will be her first experience out of the country.
“I'm most excited to be out of the country,” Wilson said looking forward to the experience. “This will be one of my abroad experiences here at DePauw. I'm excited to see another culture and also to get the opportunity to play really intense competition with a bunch of different girls.”
The email assures the players that “this will be the ‘experience of a lifetime,’” and while that may sound cheesy, it just might be true for two top volleyball players at DePauw.