Giordano Describes Trip To Europe With USA Volleyball

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Giordano Describes Trip To Europe With USA Volleyball
SMU sophomore was part of silver medal national team

Aug. 5, 2014

DALLAS (SMU) - Janelle Giordano recently represented SMU as one of 12 players selected to the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team, competing on a European tour and in the Global Challenge in Croatia. USA Volleyball took silver in the Global Challenge.
Giordano stated that competing with some of the top athletes in the world was a great experience, and as one of three sophomores on the team, she was "able to learn a lot from the older girls about the more technical aspects of the game."

While in Europe, the team used a four-day training camp to prepare for the tournament, and Giordano explained that the lack of preparation was an obstacle in early matches, but the American team quickly "found our groove and looked like a completely different and well-polished team."

The American squad faced the Croatian National Team just 36 hours after first coming together, winning just one of five sets against the older and more experienced team. "We were still very much in the process of trying to get comfortable with each other," Giordano said. "They were a highly skilled and very experienced team, and every player worked to keep the ball in system every time. They committed very few mistakes."

It wasn't all volleyball for Giordano and Team USA in Europe. The athletes had the opportunity to experience some of the attractions and local cuisines in Slovenia, Croatia, and Venice, Italy. Some of the recreational activities included a day trip to Lake Bled and a hike to Bled Castle in Slovenia, trips to the beach on the coast of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, and a day to walk around Venice. The team also went cliff jumping into the Adriatic Sea, and swam into caves.

Of the cuisine, Giordano explained that "foods we thought would be universally the same, such as grilled cheese, were definitely not the same." The middle blocker said menus in Croatia weren't in English, so she had to rely on pictures when ordering, and that pizza and pasta in Italy were amazing and better than in America.

She also described some of the challenges the accommodations provided. "In Croatia, the hotel had little or no air conditioning. The sheets were damp from the humidity, which made sleeping uncomfortable. Opening the window helped air circulation, but it also allowed bugs to come and go as they please, so you had to choose your battles," Giordano explained with a laugh.

Giordano finished her freshman campaign with a team-high .308 attack percentage, ranking sixth in The American, and hit .320 against conference opponents. She recorded 113 total blocks, averaging 1.19 per set in league matches, sixth in the conference, and posted a season-high eight against San Francisco. The Keller, Texas, native also scored 219 kills, reaching double figures in four matches.

The Mustangs start the season in San Francisco Aug. 29 and 30 at the San Francisco Invite. SMU will play its first matches in newly-renovated Moody Coliseum during the first of two home tournaments on Sept. 5 and 6. Fans can get their first live look at the 2014 SMU volleyball team during the Red-Blue scrimmage Aug. 20 at 5 p.m.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Sounds like a fun trip!