Four Eagles Selected for USA Volleyball Brazil Tour

HUNTINGDON, Pa.-This summer, the USA DIII Volleyball Teams-Brazil Tour 2019 will once again feature four current Juniata volleyball players, two from the women's team and another two from the men's team. The trip will run from June 10^th through the 19^th.  

Selected from the women's team were sophomore outsides Marie Gonsar (New Castle, Pa. / Shenango H.S.) and Victoria Taylor (Middletown, Del. / Delaware Military Academy). Gonsar ended the year second on the team in digs, third in service aces and fourth in kills, doing a bit of everything for the Eagles. Taylor was standout on the left for JC, she led the team in kills as she was an AVCA second-team All-American and a Landmark All-Conference first team selection. 

Representing the men's team will be junior outside Joe Fick (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Township) and junior middle blocker David Hibner (Burke, Va. / Lake Braddock Secondary). Fick had is his best year yet in an Eagle uniform: twice being named CVC Player of the Week, making the CVC All-Conference first team and being named to the All-ECAC first team. Hibner also had a strong year, he was second in the CVC in  blocks per set while finishing third in solo blocks, block assists and total blocks. 

The USA D-3 Volleyball Teams are invited NCAA Division III men's and women's players from across the country.  This team is comprised of players recognized as All-Americans, All-Region and All-Conference.  The 10 women's players represent 6 different colleges and universities and come from 6 different home states.  The 10 men's players hail from 7 different schools and 9 different home states. This team truly comes from almost every part of the USA. 

"This is an outstanding group of young men and women." says Ron Smith, of USA Sports Tours & Events. "Many of the players on this year's USA / Brazil Tour team had great individual seasons and led their teams into post season play.  This tour is designed to expose players to a great volleyball experience while providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for educational, cultural and social growth."

The teams will begin with orientation in Orlando, Florida, on June 10th before the team flies to Sao Paulo, Brazil that evening. The teams will practice on the 11th and have matches on the 12th and 13th in the cities of Jundiai and Campinas (in the state of Sao Paulo).  The teams will then travel to Rio de Janeiro on Friday, June 14th. The teams will compete in the Marina Barra Clube "International Challenge" on June 15th.  The International Challenge will consist of three matches each versus top U22 club teams in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Marina Barra Clube was the host training site of the Holland Women's Olympic Volleyball Team during the 2016 Olympics.   

While in Brazil the teams will experience educational, cultural and social aspects of Brazilian life through city, school and sports club visits.  While in Rio the team will be staying on the famous Copacabana Beach and touring the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain, two of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.  

USA D-3 Volleyball Team Rosters

USA D-3 Women's Volleyball Team

Head Coach: Jenna Panatier (University of La Verne) 

USA D-3 Men's Volleyball Team

Head Coach: Dan Liberto (Marymount University)