Earlier this spring BIP was invited to enter a team into the 12th annual Binh Dien Tournament in Vietnam in May. The level is quite high, loaded with some top clubs from around Asia; China, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Vietnam for this year. No American team had even been involved. As with many things in Asia, this was a last-minute effort, and we were lucky to find 11 athletes able and willing to participate, most committing and booking tickets just weeks prior to the event. The trip had everyone meeting in Saigon (formerly Ho Chi Minh City) and then flying to Da Nang together after a day or two of getting used to the new time zone. The following is a journal from Anna Church, a seasoned BIP-All-Star who just wrapped up a season playing professionally in Germany. [Read more…] about BIP USA Team Competes in Vietnam
Unconventional: Americans Overseas
When I was a kid, I had many things that I wanted to be when I grew up (and still do today!). I fell in love with volleyball after attending every practice and game of my older sister’s when I was 8 years old. When I found out that there was the hope of playing after college, and travel mixed with it, I knew I’d found my calling.
As an American pursuing my dream of professional volleyball, naturally I did some research first. Searching for information on my dream, I found the stories of some of the top athletes, Olympians and the highest-level collegiate players. I knew that there were all levels of players, but I couldn’t find information on the players more like me. How could a player like me, someone with not much to their name, and a libero/defensive specialist, find a job? [Read more…] about Unconventional: Americans Overseas