Indiana University Athletics
McDonald, USAVB Collegiate National Team Win Global Challenge
7/15/2016 1:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
PULA, CROATIA – Indiana volleyball senior Jazzmine McDonald and the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team defeated China on Thursday to claim the 12th annual European Global Challenge Championship.
McDonald has been in Europe since July 5 with the 12-player roster for the Collegiate National Team. Before the Global Challenge the team took in sights and played matches in Milan and now will sightsee in Venice before returning to the U.S. this weekend.
The Collegiate National Team defeated England, Slovenia and China on their path to the Championship.
IU volleyball alumna Whitney Wilde Granado (2009-12) competed in the Global Challenge for England and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Playing overseas, McDonald said she is constantly being challenged and being exposed to new styles of play.
"It is so much fun to go out and compete against the different teams and be forced out of my comfort zone during game play," she said.
"You could have never told me that I would be doing something like this," McDonald added. "I am beyond grateful and can't wait to be able to share more after my trip is over."
About the Global Challenge
What started in Salt Lake City, Utah as a modest volleyball tournament with a few foreign teams has evolved into a 32-team international invitational featuring top teams in u17 and u22 divisions from around the world. In recent years the sleepy little town of Pula has witnessed a volleyball showdown between youth and junior national teams from Russia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Denmark. Add to that a mix of club and country federation teams from Romania, Germany, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Puerto Rico. USA regional HP, youth national, junior national, and collegiate national teams have all traveled across the globe to compete against some of the best youth volleyball teams in the world.
The tournament kicks off with an opening ceremony honoring past Olympians in attendance from various countries at the edge of the one of the last remaining fully intact Roman Colosseums in the world dating back to 68 AD. Daily tournament play is combined with historic sightseeing and beach relaxation.
McDonald has been in Europe since July 5 with the 12-player roster for the Collegiate National Team. Before the Global Challenge the team took in sights and played matches in Milan and now will sightsee in Venice before returning to the U.S. this weekend.
The Collegiate National Team defeated England, Slovenia and China on their path to the Championship.
IU volleyball alumna Whitney Wilde Granado (2009-12) competed in the Global Challenge for England and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Playing overseas, McDonald said she is constantly being challenged and being exposed to new styles of play.
"It is so much fun to go out and compete against the different teams and be forced out of my comfort zone during game play," she said.
"You could have never told me that I would be doing something like this," McDonald added. "I am beyond grateful and can't wait to be able to share more after my trip is over."
About the Global Challenge
What started in Salt Lake City, Utah as a modest volleyball tournament with a few foreign teams has evolved into a 32-team international invitational featuring top teams in u17 and u22 divisions from around the world. In recent years the sleepy little town of Pula has witnessed a volleyball showdown between youth and junior national teams from Russia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Denmark. Add to that a mix of club and country federation teams from Romania, Germany, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Puerto Rico. USA regional HP, youth national, junior national, and collegiate national teams have all traveled across the globe to compete against some of the best youth volleyball teams in the world.
The tournament kicks off with an opening ceremony honoring past Olympians in attendance from various countries at the edge of the one of the last remaining fully intact Roman Colosseums in the world dating back to 68 AD. Daily tournament play is combined with historic sightseeing and beach relaxation.
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