COLUMBIA, Mo. – In late May, Mizzou Volleyball made its long trek to Beijing, China, for an unforgettable 13-day trip. While overseas, the Tigers competed against top Chinese competition during the week and visited historic landmarks on the weekends.
Throughout the offseason, MUTigers.com will meet with each of the Tiger players who made the memorable trip. Each individual will focus on one part of the team's trip and recall what that moment meant to them.
Next, is senior Julia Towler and her recollection of playing volleyball against local Chinese teams. The following description was written by Towler.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The trip to Beijing, China, this summer absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. It was not only an educational and athletic experience, but also a very humbling experience. I'm so fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to travel across the world to play the sport I love while experiencing China's amazing culture. While in China, my favorite activity was playing different Chinese volleyball teams.
We played Beihang University, Beijing Sports University, Central University of Finance and Economics, and the Henan Professional Team. Some teams we played multiple times while in Beijing. Although we couldn't verbally communicate with the Chinese teams, it was obvious that we all shared the same love for the game of volleyball. And that was our form of communication.
Since the China trip, many people have asked me if (1) the Chinese teams are good at volleyball and (2) if the girls on the teams are tall. I will start off by saying yes; the Chinese teams are good at volleyball! Although many of the girls don't have as much height and strength that we have, they definitely make up for it through their skills.
Each Chinese player has such a technically sound and precise skill set for the game of volleyball. It's obvious (from their accuracy) that the players practice volleyball with multiple repetitions in each skill. They just don't make too many errors! It was a blast getting to play these different teams; hopefully we were able to bring some hints about their amazing skills back to the United States with us!
Overall, the trip to China was such an incredible experience. I wouldn't have wanted to experience China with any other group of girls or coaches. Thank you Mizzou Volleyball for this opportunity!
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Volleyball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (Missouri Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouVB).