MOUNT VERNON – The Cornell College volleyball team had an experience of a lifetime during a recent 11-day trip to Spain and Portugal June 5-16.
The team played three exhibition matches and one intrasquad scrimmage while touring several European cities. This was the program's fifth international team trip under head coach
Jeff Meeker, which includes Italy '07, Nicaragua '11, Central & Eastern Europe '14, and Costa Rica 18'.
"Our trip to Spain and Portugal was outstanding," Meeker said. "I was very proud of how our team took full advantage of the opportunity to explore the amazing cities we visited, how they looked after each other, and how they represented Cornell and our program. We played some great volleyball and made some new volleyball friends along the way."
The Rams secured victories against the Spanish Junior National Team, 3-2, in Soria, Spain, and the Next Level Club in Lisbon, 3-2. After their exhibition match against Next Level Club, they exchanged jerseys and had dinner together. They lost to the Barcelona Volleyball Club, CV Barca, 3-0.
"Our trip was an awesome experience," said fifth-year middle blocker
Grace Marti. "It was such a cool opportunity to get in the gym with teams from different countries and to meet the players after the match. It was fun to play high-level volleyball with my teammates in two new countries. I loved getting to travel with the team, see new places, and experience different cultures. It truly was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. I'm forever grateful to have been able to be a part of this trip."
After their match against CV Barca, the Rams toured Barcelona and visited the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. The team spent time on the beach and visited the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Cathedral of Santa Maria, and the Crystal Palace while touring Madrid, Spain.
The team attended a Maroon 5 concert in Lisbon, Portugal and also toured the Sao Jorge Castle.
The 2022 Rams won the program's 10th consecutive Midwest Conference regular-season championship and earned a second straight NCAA Tournament berth. Cornell opens the 2023 campaign at the Jim Coleman Memorial Classic Sept. 1-2 in Aurora, Ill.
