LOGAN, Utah – Two Utah State volleyball players will play in the 15th annual Global Challenge at the 2019 Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia, as announced by the Mountain West Tuesday. Sophomore middle blocker Corinne Larsen and sophomore outside hitter Whitney Solosabal will be two of the 12-member Mountain West all-star team that will travel to Europe July 16-19, spending time in England, Croatia and Italy.
Fresno State head coach Jonathan Winder will lead the MW team while overseas. The team is made up of two setters, five middle blockers, four outsider hitters and one libero from seven of the league's institutions. The 2019 all-star team will be led by defending Freshman of the Year Jessica Donahue from Boise State. Additionally, Larsen and Solosabal will be joined by Colorado State's Sasha Colombo and Olivia Nicholson, Madelyn Halteman from Fresno State, Nevada's Kayla Afoa and Dalyn Burns, Erin Gillcrist of San Diego State and San José State's Haylee Nelson and Sarah Smevog.
The Mountain West team will leave the United States on July 9, flying to London to train and compete. The group will then travel to Pula on July 14, with the opening ceremonies set for July 15. Matches will be played July 16-19, with the team flying to Venice, Italy on July 20 and returning home on July 21. The mission of the Global Challenge is to provide teams international playing experience and exposure. Past tournament participants have included club and country federation teams from Slovenia, Russia, Romania, Germany, Bosnia, Montenegro, China, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Denmark and Puerto Rico, plus USA youth national, junior national and collegiate national teams.
Larsen and Solosabal will provide pictures and keep up with a blog about their experiences in Europe. Fans can keep up with happenings online at utahstateaggies.com.
Additionally, fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
2019 Mountain West Global Challenge All-Star Volleyball Team
Name Institution Position
Jessica Donahue Boise State Middle Blocker
Kiley Lewis Boise State Outside Hitter
Sasha Colombo Colorado State Middle Blocker
Olivia Nicholson Colorado State Outside Hitter
Madelyn Halteman Fresno State Setter
Kayla Afoa Nevada Outside Hitter
Dalyn Burns Nevada Setter
Erin Gillcrist San Diego State Middle Blocker
Haylee Nelson San José State Middle Blocker
Sarah Smevog San José State Libero
Corinne Larsen Utah State Middle Blocker
Whitney Solosabal Utah State Outside Hitter
Head Coach: Jonathan Winder, Fresno State
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