WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After nearly two weeks of sightseeing, competing, growing as one unit and experiencing new cultures, Purdue volleyball has touched down in the United States. The 2017 European Tour has come to a close, but we have made memories that we will surely cherish for a lifetime. Thanks again to Purdue Athletics and the John Purdue Club for supporting our program on this trip!
Our time in Slovenia seems to be a distant memory, despite the fact that we crossed into Italy only one week ago. We were fortunate to pack various city visits and activities into the past five days while also competing against well-respected volleyball teams. The second leg of the trip materialized all throughout Italy with Venice as the first stop. A mixture of bus and train rides carried us from city-to-city. Historic Venice, the Italian city known for its composition of over 40 individual islands separated by gondola-filled canals, was a treat to see as we had a full day to venture from island-to-island via endless antique bridges that most people only see in movies. The never-ending stores and restaurants along every alleyway were slightly overwhelming at first, but by the end of the day, we developed an appreciation for the variety of shops and cafes and of course, gelaterias. And not to mention, seeing the house in which George Clooney got married and where Mozart lived for part of his lifetime made for some great memories. When one thinks of Venice, gondolas typically come to mind, and many of us highly recommend taking a gondola ride through the city: it's worth the price!
From Venice, we made our way to Milan for Days #6 and #7 of the tour. Here, we competed for the first time in Italy at the Italian National Training Center which was within walking distance of our hotel. We played against two Club Italia teams, both of which were very competitive and scrappy from a defensive standpoint. We handled the first U18 team very well as we won in 4 games. Our blocking and serving were two of our strengths throughout the trip. On Day #7, we headed to Lake Como and downtown Milan, commonly referred to as the "fashion capital of the world" where we experienced fantastic shopping. Lake Como was a sight to see through a boat tour and despite the effort, we were unsuccessful in locating George Clooney's home. Starting in Venice and ending in Rome, the food in Italy was incredible and the Italian pizza and pasta never disappointed. Interestingly, the pasta is considered as an appetizer or only the first course as the main course follows. Pre-game fuel was never an issue as we consumed more than enough carbohydrates in Italy, no doubt! Day #7 concluded with a win over the U23 Club Italia team that evening.
For Day #8, we traveled to Cinque Terre, a renowned destination on the western Italian coast made up of five separate villages that are accessible via train or by hiking from one village to the next. One will need more than a single afternoon to experience all five villages to the fullest extent as the number of beach areas, ocean views, shops, boutiques and cafes are too large in number to see in a few hours. Two of our favorite villages were Monterosso al Mare that had the best beach and Vernazza, referred to as the "crown jewel" of all of the villages.
Next, we headed to Pisa and Florence for Day #9. Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a must simply to snap the cliché "Leaning" picture! Florence was similar to Milan in the sense of shopping opportunities and sightseeing. The Duomo Cathedral of Milan is one of the largest cathedrals in the world, and the enormity of it speaks for itself. Pictures do not do it justice, but rather seeing it in person is the only way to truly appreciate the size and antiquity of the church.
A 3.5 hour train ride transported us from Florence to Rome in which we spent the last two days of the trip. Our only match in Rome was against a U18 VolleyRo. It was a disappointing performance compared to the other matches of the trip. This team may have been the most consistent team we faced from a passing and ball-control standpoint, and we had a difficult time shutting down their go-to hitter from the left pin and backrow. Despite the loss, we understood that after nearly eleven days of playing, walking and seeing all of Slovenia and Italy, fatigue definitely played a role in our performance. However, we tried to learn from the match and realize that this will not be the last time we feel as such, considering how long the B1G season is come fall. The final day was full of sight-seeing in Rome. From the Colosseum to Palatine Hill, shopping and ending the day with a family-style dinner full of salad, pizza, pasta and pot-roast, Rome did not disappoint!
From all players, coaches, managers and support staff, Purdue Volleyball extends the biggest thank-you to Purdue Athletics and the John Purdue Club for providing us with this opportunity to experience such a memorable trip. We know that this trip will benefit us come fall as we have grown closer as teammates and as a program overall! #BoilerUp #HammerDown #HailPurdue
