WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue volleyball team will visit four different countries during its 12-day European tour this spring. The Boilermakers will visit several historic locales during the May 11 to 23 tour, including Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Maribor, Slovenia; and Rome and Pordenone, Italy.
"The goals for this trip are to find ways to become a better team," head coach Dave Shondell said. "This includes the training and competing in the gym and learning to appreciate and work with each other on a daily basis. The tour provides our players with a great opportunity to gel as a team and generate momentum heading into the 2008 fall season."
The Boilermakers will play six matches during the tour. Opponents will include the Slovenian junior and senior national teams along with four local club teams.
"The competition will be extremely tough," Shondell said. "The director of the tour informed me that each team we play will be NCAA Final Four caliber or better. We will be challenged each time we step on the floor. We cannot ask for anything more."
Updates during the tour will be posted daily on purduesports.com.
Bring It Promotions (BIP), which put together similar tours for Wisconsin, USC and Utah in 2007, organized the trip. An itinerary of the team's trip follows.
May 11: Depart for Prague, Czech Republic
Day 1 Blog - Mandy Nichols
May 12: Arrive in Prague
Practice in the afternoon
Day 2 Blog - Sam Ainsworth
Photo Gallery Day 1-2
May 13: Sightseeing in Prague
Match #1 vs. Slavia Praha
Day 3 Blog - Lisa Pierce
May 14: Sightseeing in Prague
Match #2 vs. Olymp Praha
Day 4 Blog - Jaclyn Hart
Photo Gallery Days 3-4
May 15: Depart for Brno, Czech Republic
Sightseeing in Brno
Match #3 vs. KP Brno
Day 5 Blog - Kelli Miller
May 16: Depart for Maribor, Slovenia, via Vienna, Austria
Sightseeing in Vienna
Depart for Maribor, Slovenia
Day 6 Blog - Jessica Ullrich
Coach's Corner Blog - Dave Shondell
Photo Gallery Days 5-6
May 17: Sightseeing in Maribor
Match #4 vs. Slovenian Junior National Team
Day 7 Blog - Meagan Sesselmann
May 18: Depart for Planica, Slovenia
Match #5 vs. Slovenian Senior National Team
Day 8 Blog - Carrie Gurnell
Photo Gallery Days 7-8
May 19: Depart for Pordenone, Italy
Sightseeing in Venice
Day 9 Blog - Blair Bashen
May 20: Sightseeing in Pordenone
Match #6 vs. San Dona (B1)
Day 10 Blog - Kristen Arthurs
Photo Gallery Days 9-10
May 21: Depart for Rome, Italy, via train
Sightseeing in Rome
Coach's Corner Blog - John Shondell
Day 11 Blog - Stephanie Lynch
May 22: Sightseeing in Rome
Day 12 Blog - Danita Merlau
Photo Gallery Days 11-12
May 23: Depart Rome for the USA
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