PHOTOS | BIG TEN INTERVIEW | BIG TEN FOREIGN TOUR CENTRAL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For most college students the summer is highlighted by internships, pool days and visits back home, but for Hayley Bush, the summer was highlighted by a trip of a lifetime.
A returning starter for the Boilermakers, Bush was one of 12 student-athletes selected to represent Big Ten volleyball on a foreign tour to Japan. Visiting Japan for about two weeks, Bush and her conference teammates competed in six matches against teams from across the country. They also had the opportunity to explore some of Japan's most historic landmarks, including: Mt. Fuji, the Gion district, the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Philosopher's Walk, while also learning about the Japanese language and culture.
The Trip Of A Lifetime
By: Hayley Bush
Volleyball has always played a significant role in my life. Ever since I grew up in Union, Kentucky, the sport has been a constant companion. My first experiences took place when I was only six years old.
My older sister, Ashley, who ended up playing volleyball for Northwestern, heard about a club volleyball team called NKYVC when she was a child and tried out for it. As most little sisters do, I fell in my older sister's footsteps. It was just a matter of time until I found myself on a volleyball court as well. And once I did, it didn't take me long to fall in love with the game.
To this day, volleyball continues to fascinate me on so many levels. Mostly, the athleticism that volleyball players portray day in and day out. It is a sport that requires many different skills and techniques, and the endless shot possibilities make it so much fun for me.
Something Special at Purdue
Volleyball continued to be my passion during my high school years. Once I set my mind on playing college volleyball, it was time to pick a school. Due to my high school achievements, I received interest from a lot of schools.
But when I visited Purdue as a sophomore, I immediately realized that everything about the school was a perfect fit. There was something special that drew me to Purdue.
To be frank, when I committed, I wasn't fully aware of the different conferences or the overall level of play. But once I learned about the Big Ten Conference and its incredibly high level, I was beyond thrilled to compete in arguably the toughest volleyball conference in the nation. To this day, I find myself to be extremely lucky to play for Purdue.
Big Ten Foreign Tour
Since this summer, I feel even more fortunate to be a part of the Big Ten. A few months ago, I was invited to be a part of The Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour. This was the third time in the past five years that twelve Big Ten volleyball players from various institutions get to compete overseas and explore a different culture. In our case, the trip lead us to Japan for 12 days.
It was such an honor to join such an elite group of players, visit a beautiful country, and play the sport we all love.
A Trip That Would Change My Life
For someone that has only been out of the country once (Mexico), traveling to Japan was a bit daunting. In all honesty, I didn't know what to expect. I was hoping to learn new techniques, different styles of play, all while experiencing a new culture. I find it important to learn about other cultures besides your own, so I was pretty stoked for this part, as well.
Preparing for the trip was challenging. Technically, all I did was google pictures and travel tips to be aware of what to do in certain situations. But at the end of the day, I was far more excited than nervous.
Japan, Here I Come
Experiencing Japan and playing volleyball in a different culture was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Playing against all of the different pro teams were the most memorable moments of the trip. I could have never prepared myself for the level of play in Japan. It was so fast and errorless.
Before each game, we would tour different areas and shrines for about five hours, so adjusting from touring to playing was a challenging thing for me. I was, however, incredibly happy to see these places and getting to know the Japanese culture. After all, this was a huge aspect of the trip. And furthermore, I learned a lot about how to prepare for games when focusing becomes problematic.
Learning from Each Other
Not only did I learn from traveling, the coaches, or new opponents, I also absorbed a lot of knowledge just being around top players from other Big Ten schools. I mean, during the season, you always compete against each other which doesn't leave much room for social interactions. However, on this trip, we were all in it together. Everyone knew exactly what you're going through and could relate to your thoughts and feelings. This was amazing!
Looking Forward
Now being back at Purdue, I have extremely high expectations for our next season, not only for myself but for our entire team. We all have the same goal in mind which is to go far in the NCAA tournament. I know we are all committed to put in the work needed for us to get there. Now, it's "just" a matter of executing.
I'll do my very best to lead by example and help improve our team by integrating some of my experiences from the Big Ten Foreign Tour. I can't wait for the the season to start.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For most college students the summer is highlighted by internships, pool days and visits back home, but for Hayley Bush, the summer was highlighted by a trip of a lifetime.
A returning starter for the Boilermakers, Bush was one of 12 student-athletes selected to represent Big Ten volleyball on a foreign tour to Japan. Visiting Japan for about two weeks, Bush and her conference teammates competed in six matches against teams from across the country. They also had the opportunity to explore some of Japan's most historic landmarks, including: Mt. Fuji, the Gion district, the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Philosopher's Walk, while also learning about the Japanese language and culture.
The Trip Of A Lifetime
By: Hayley Bush
Volleyball has always played a significant role in my life. Ever since I grew up in Union, Kentucky, the sport has been a constant companion. My first experiences took place when I was only six years old.
My older sister, Ashley, who ended up playing volleyball for Northwestern, heard about a club volleyball team called NKYVC when she was a child and tried out for it. As most little sisters do, I fell in my older sister's footsteps. It was just a matter of time until I found myself on a volleyball court as well. And once I did, it didn't take me long to fall in love with the game.
To this day, volleyball continues to fascinate me on so many levels. Mostly, the athleticism that volleyball players portray day in and day out. It is a sport that requires many different skills and techniques, and the endless shot possibilities make it so much fun for me.
Something Special at Purdue
Volleyball continued to be my passion during my high school years. Once I set my mind on playing college volleyball, it was time to pick a school. Due to my high school achievements, I received interest from a lot of schools.
But when I visited Purdue as a sophomore, I immediately realized that everything about the school was a perfect fit. There was something special that drew me to Purdue.
To be frank, when I committed, I wasn't fully aware of the different conferences or the overall level of play. But once I learned about the Big Ten Conference and its incredibly high level, I was beyond thrilled to compete in arguably the toughest volleyball conference in the nation. To this day, I find myself to be extremely lucky to play for Purdue.
Big Ten Foreign Tour
Since this summer, I feel even more fortunate to be a part of the Big Ten. A few months ago, I was invited to be a part of The Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour. This was the third time in the past five years that twelve Big Ten volleyball players from various institutions get to compete overseas and explore a different culture. In our case, the trip lead us to Japan for 12 days.
It was such an honor to join such an elite group of players, visit a beautiful country, and play the sport we all love.
A Trip That Would Change My Life
For someone that has only been out of the country once (Mexico), traveling to Japan was a bit daunting. In all honesty, I didn't know what to expect. I was hoping to learn new techniques, different styles of play, all while experiencing a new culture. I find it important to learn about other cultures besides your own, so I was pretty stoked for this part, as well.
Preparing for the trip was challenging. Technically, all I did was google pictures and travel tips to be aware of what to do in certain situations. But at the end of the day, I was far more excited than nervous.
Japan, Here I Come
Experiencing Japan and playing volleyball in a different culture was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Playing against all of the different pro teams were the most memorable moments of the trip. I could have never prepared myself for the level of play in Japan. It was so fast and errorless.
Before each game, we would tour different areas and shrines for about five hours, so adjusting from touring to playing was a challenging thing for me. I was, however, incredibly happy to see these places and getting to know the Japanese culture. After all, this was a huge aspect of the trip. And furthermore, I learned a lot about how to prepare for games when focusing becomes problematic.
Learning from Each Other
Not only did I learn from traveling, the coaches, or new opponents, I also absorbed a lot of knowledge just being around top players from other Big Ten schools. I mean, during the season, you always compete against each other which doesn't leave much room for social interactions. However, on this trip, we were all in it together. Everyone knew exactly what you're going through and could relate to your thoughts and feelings. This was amazing!
Looking Forward
Now being back at Purdue, I have extremely high expectations for our next season, not only for myself but for our entire team. We all have the same goal in mind which is to go far in the NCAA tournament. I know we are all committed to put in the work needed for us to get there. Now, it's "just" a matter of executing.
I'll do my very best to lead by example and help improve our team by integrating some of my experiences from the Big Ten Foreign Tour. I can't wait for the the season to start.