Bring It Live

INTERVIEWS

Learn what playing volleyball internationally is all about. From coaches reflections on foreign tours to player interviews about their overseas playing experience, there's nothing more powerful than a personal testimony from somebody who has been there before.

In this section we interview players and coaches about what it's like to play volleyball against foreign teams on tour and in international leagues around the world. Browse through the interviews below and be sure to read the Coaches Testimonials to get more feedback from coaches.

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Nicki Holmes Named to Coaching Staff of College National Team for Global Challenge

College National Volleyball Team
photo credit // Melanie Gorter

In preparation for this year’s 13th annual European Global Challenge, we sat down with Nicki Holmes, NC State Women’s Volleyball Assistant Coach at the Dras Center in Maribor, Slovenia. The team was just wrapping up a friendly match against  Nova KBM u23 which they won 3 sets to 1.

Coach Holmes was named to the coaching staff of USA Volleyball’s College National Team which is preparing to compete in the U23 division of the Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia on July 11th – 14th, 2017.  In the interview below, Coach Holmes reflects on NC State’s recent 12 day trip to Italy,  “It was a great cultural experience for the girls and it was great team bonding. It will help us a lot in the fall.”

Watch the complete interview below. You can also check tournament results and watch matches of this year’s College National Team on the Global Challenge website. [Read more…] about Nicki Holmes Named to Coaching Staff of College National Team for Global Challenge

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Joe Trinsey Named Women’s Coach for World University Games

Joe Trinsley

Joe Trinsey, also known as the “Moneyball Man” for the U.S. women’s national team was recently  named the head coach of the American Women’s Team attending the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan. Trinsey shared his thoughts on the World University Games with BIP while attending the US National Team tryouts in Colorado Springs.

Trinsey reflects, “Last year (2016) in the Rio Olympics I got the chance to represent USA as part of the coaching staff with the women’s (USA) Olympic team and I’m really fired up because I get another opportunity to represent USA as coach of the team for the World University Games later on this summer in Taiwan. The World University Games its kind of like an Olympics for university students… It’s a multi-sport event, teams from all over the world get to compete in it, there’s an athlete village just like the Olympics…”

Watch the full interview below. [Read more…] about Joe Trinsey Named Women’s Coach for World University Games

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Florida Legend Mary Wise Reflects on the World University Games

Mary WiseIn March 2017 at the US National Team tryouts in Colorado Springs, we had the opportunity to sit down with Mary Wise, the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at the University of Florida. She shared with us her thoughts about coaching the US College National Team (CNT) at the World University Games in previous years.

Coach Wise reflects, “For the coaches and the players it really is one of the highlights of our volleyball careers…”it’s the closest thing to the Olympics – with the opening ceremonies, athletes village, medal ceremony and playing against teams from all around the world.”

Watch the full interview from Coach Wise below. [Read more…] about Florida Legend Mary Wise Reflects on the World University Games

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Stony Brook Volleyball Recaps Spring Break Tour to Panama & Nicaragua

Stony Brook VolleyballThe Stony Brook University women’s volleyball team traveled to Nicaragua and Panama over spring break 2016 to experience international competition, unique team-building opportunities and volunteer abroad.

The nine-day trip to Nicaragua and Panama exceeded the expectations of the student athletes and coaching staff alike. “This trip brought us closer as a team and changed the way we looked at life”, reflected junior outside hitter Melann Amory in a post trip interview.  

Head coach Coley Pawlikowski had this to say about her teams experience in Central America, “Our recent trip to Nicaragua and Panama was the best experience that I have ever had with a team.  I have been on several foreign trips with various teams and programs which all have been great, however the balance between community service, team building, volleyball, fun and being embedded in and embracing a different culture was really special.  

We really were able to invest in the community and participated in the following activities as a group:  visited two elementary/start up schools and worked hands on with children, worked with an organization for people with special needs that make tote bags for resale, visited a women’s co-op that produces jam in return providing a portion of the average $100.00 per month family salary locals live on, participated as mobile library delivering books and reading with children in tiny further out villages providing their only means to education, ran two volleyball clinics for local children, and visited an afternoon children’s program where each of us were paired with a student and read.  We read to them in Spanish and they taught us, and in return they read to us in English and we helped them.  

Seeing our student athletes so invested and gaining a whole new perspective was truly special to witness and something I will always cherish.  Our girls personally connected with so many people and the impact on everyone involved resulted in memories that will last a lifetime.  

My staff and I are incredibly proud of how our girls represented themselves, our program and Stony Brook University.  Breaking down language barriers through kindness and compassion was incredibly fulfilling and we are proud. “

Watch the full interview on the Seawolves YouTube page here.

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College of Charleston Tours Nicaragua

In 2015 Bring It Promotions hosted the College of Charleston beach volleyball team in Nicaragua. Jason Kepner, College of Charleston head women’s volleyball coach, had this to say about his team’s experience:

“Traveling to Nicaragua with BIP over spring break was one of the greatest trips I have taken at C of C.  The trip was so much more than I was expecting.  It was organized, planned perfectly and had a great balance of volleyball, community service, and team building activities.  This is something the entire team including the coaches will remember for a lifetime.  I highly recommend BIP and the trip to Nicaragua.  We definitely plan on doing this tour again down the road.”

Check out the College of Charleston video below to hear coach and player interviews.

 

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Coach Craig Skinner Reflects on University of Kentucky China Tour

In 2014 Bring It Promotions hosted the University of Kentucky women’s volleyball team in China. Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, had this to say about his team’s experience:

“Our tour to China was a once in a lifetime experience for our players and program. BIP and Chris Chen provided an incredible two week volleyball concentrated tour that really challenged and matured out returning team. Being in China was a cultural education on top of playing the game at an extremely high level. There is no doubt that our team will significantly benefit from this experience.”

Check out the ‘Kentucky Wildcats TV: UK Volleyball Goes To China’ video to hear coach and player interviews.