March 13, 2009

While most college students look forward to a spring break in the sun on an exotic beach somewhere south of the equator, the University of Texas Pan American women's volleyball team will spend their break competing against some of the toughest competition Italy has to offer.

With the help of Bring It Promotions, a company who amongst catering to volleyball professionals also specializes in preparing tours for university teams to provide some of the best competition available, the Lady Broncs will face five different teams in five different cities across Italy.

"(Our) opponents are not known until we get there," second-year head coach Angela Hubbard said. "Sometimes it will be the junior national team, the Italian National Team or their professional teams."

The Lady Broncs will have some fun as well. According to Hubbard when they arrive in Italy they will check into their hotel, practice, eat some dinner, the next day sight see, and play someone that night. The process will continue for five days in Venice, Verona, Pordenone, Belluno and Milan. The last two days the Lady Broncs will get a break and just tour some cities without playing.

This isn't the first time Hubbard has been involved with a tour like this. She has had the opportunity to travel as a player and as a coach before.

"This will be my third time to go over there and this will be my second time I take a team," Hubbard said. "You just contact them (Bring It Promotions) and let them know you want to go on a tour and they give you a list of al the different tours they have and you choose which one you want to go on."

This tour though is more than just sight seeing for the Hubbard and the Lady Broncs. For the seniors on the squad who will graduate in May, it's an opportunity to make up for a trip that fell through two years ago.

"A few years ago they (Lady Broncs) were supposed to go to Brazil and it fell through," Hubbard said. "They weren't able to go so it's why I'm doing it, to say farewell to our seniors who thought they were going to do it last time."

For the rest of the Lady Broncs it's an opportunity to compete against some stiff competition in place of their spring tournaments. According to NCAA rules though a trip like this can only take place every four years.

"It's also for the returners to get some competition and to be able to play together," Hubbard said.

Hubbard said the Lady Broncs are excited for the opportunity to see another country, another culture and to see some things they might not have had the opportunity to do in any other time of their life.

A blog will be available to read at www.utpabroncs.com throughout the week from some of the Lady Broncs about their experiences in Italy.