Event sponsored by:
American College Volleyball Showcase
Men's Volleyball
5TH EDITION MEN'S SHOWCASE
June 11-13, 2025
In 2021 we took up on the challenge of creating the first ever Men’s Volleyball Showcase and this year we are proud to announce the dates of the fifth edition! This event is the ONE AND ONLY EVENT in Italy dedicated to collegiate men’s volleyball.
One more time this summer, Italian and international volleyball players will have the chance to get closer to the always-growing world of college and show their character and skills.
The aim is to ensure that each athlete can demonstrate his athletic and personal skills while being immerse in the American Way of volleyball. The purpose is always having the opportunity of being considered for an athletic scholarship in the universities of the United States of America.
The Showcase will be led by coaches assisted by current student-athletes who have already earned an athletic scholarship in American colleges and who will help in the intercultural and linguistic exchange between athletes, coaches and staff.
The program includes accommodation in the beautiful setting of the “Castelli Romani” just outside of the City of Rome, Italy. It will also include 3 indoor volleyball practices, meetings between the consultants and the athletes in collective and individual form and direct contact with the American coaches both on and off the court. There will also be a simulation of the TOEFL test, managed by our partner Byron Tree School of English.
Location: Frascati (Rome), one of the most beautiful and characteristic towns of the Castelli Romani, on the outskirts of Rome.
Room and board: Domus Park Hotel, via Tuscolana 15 – Frascati (Rome).
Gym: Palazzetto dello Sport Frascati, viale Luigi Einaudi 7, 00044 – Frascati (Rome).
Transportation: there is a permanent van service between the hotel and the gym. The participation fee includes transportation to/from the airport or train station as agreed with the organization.
Athletes: The Showcase includes a maximum of 15 athletes who will be working on both, individual training by position and team practices and competition. On the main wood court, a single central court will be set up.
Staff: The staff will be made up of coordinators, coaches from American colleges, Italian coaches, student-athletes and assistants for material and transportation. Other student-athletes, former professional volleyball players and Italian coaches are also expected to participate.
Tentative schedule:
| Wednesday 11 | Thursday 12 | Friday 13 | |
| Morning | Early arrival (not included) | Practice | Check-out + Meetings Departure |
| Afternoon | Check-in+ TOEFL Simulation Practice | Practice | |
| Evening | Presentation Sportlinx360 | Recreational activities |
Coach Gary Lee Preston Jr
He has over 10 years of experience as a college volleyball coach in the United States at the Division I, II, and III levels. Most notably, in 2017, Gary helped lead Hunter College’s men’s volleyball program to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division III National Championships. This was a historic season for Hunter College with the Conference victory, seventh place in the nation and a record of 27 wins and only 7 losses. Gary then had the honour of coaching abroad while completing a Master’s degree in Sports and Exercise Psychology in 2018. During this time in the UK, she helped lead the London Orcas to the Women’s Super 8 Finals. After his experience in the UK, Gary became an assistant women’s volleyball coach at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. The team won the Heartland Conference, qualifying for the finals of the NCAA Tournament. The team finished the year in the top 30 in the U.S. with a 21-12 record. Gary later moved up to Division I at Bethune-Cookman University serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the women’s team during the 2019 season.
Being originally from the northeastern United States, Gary returned to New York where he coached at Mercy College, an NCAA Division II volleyball program, while also coaching full-time for the Brooklyn Elite Volleyball Club. In addition, Gary is also a traveling coach for Gold Medal Squared, a company that deals with volleyball courses and clinics for coaches, volleyball summer camps for athletes, and online training platforms, etc. Gary helps run clinics and courses for coaches in the U.S. on up-to-date volleyball skills, techniques, and tactics.
In addition to his coaching career, Gary had a successful playing career at New Jersey City University, where he was a starter for three years as a setter. He was the team’s captain in 2014 and was named Second Team All-Skyline Conference in 2014.
Gary is currently finishing a Master’s degree in Sports Management at the Rome City Institute.
Cost (Tuition): 350,00€ includes:
- Room and board at the splendid structure of Domus Park Hotel from Wednesday 11 after lunch to Friday 13 late morning;
- Staff with English Proficiency;
- Simulation of the TOEFL by certified teachers;
- Information and material on how to get an athletic scholarship in USA colleges through specific presentations and activities of various kinds regarding the academic and athletic systems within the American colleges;
- Practice clothing;
- All the activities of the tentative schedule, including any trips and evening in the center of Frascati;
- Staff available 24 hours a day;
- Personal report and complete evaluation of each participant.
Registration procedure:
- Submit your application by filling out the form. (Answer “Yes” to the question “Are you filling out the form with the intention of being evaluated to participate in the next edition of the Showcase?”).
- After an evaluation of the profile by our staff, if eligible for participation, the athlete will receive a confirmation email with the participation form to be completed and next steps:
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- Bank details to make the payment of the deposit of € 100.00 to reserve the place*
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- Procedure for carrying out the online English assessment that will allow teachers to determine if the athlete has the necessary skills to take the TOEFL simulation.
- Attendees will then receive an email to make the balance payment, a list of things to bring to the Showcase and the final details.
Registrations are open subject to availability of places by role and level/year of maturity.
Presentation:
On Wednesday, June 11 at 9:30 p.m., the conference will be held: “How to get a scholarship for sports merit in American colleges”. The event is free, open to athletes, parents and those interested in receiving information. Limited number of places, it is mandatory to communicate the number of participants and sports of interest to info@sportlinx360.com or WA +393463062524.
N.B. Athletes participating in the Showcase are already automatically registered for the presentation as well. Presentation-only registration is for parents or outsiders who are not attending the Showcase.
* In case of cancellation or cancellation, the deposit will be refunded in full or in part in the following ways: – Refund of 100% of the amount in case of cancellation of the event due to force majeure.– 100% refund in case of cancellation by April 30, 2025.– Refund of 50% of the amount in case of cancellation by May 30, 2025.– No refund of the advance payment in the event of cancellation after 30 May 2025, but the athlete will have the full credit for participation in a subsequent edition of the Showcase or discount on the consultancy contract.
In previous editions...
Some athletes who have participated in previous editions:
- In 2023 Luca Colombo, a libero from Milan, showed important qualities during practices at the Showcase, qualities that allowed him to be recruited by the University of Mount Olive coach with an excellent scholarship. After the first scrimmages and friendly games during the Fall, in mid-January 2025 Luca will start his first championship in the NCAA league.
- Michele Fassetta and Andrea Forcina participated in the third edition of the Showcase in 2023 and in the summer of 2024 they both flew to Reinhardt University, just outside Atlanta, to begin their journey as student-athletes and play their first season in the NAIA league.
- Andrea Biffi and Alessandro Olgiati, also present at the Showcase in 2023, after evaluating several options, have chosen to accept an athletic and academic scholarship at Goshen College (IN) and in January 2025 they will start their first overseas championship.
- David Barcan took part in our Showcases in 2021 and 2022 to showcase his athletic skills. Since September 2022, he has officially become a student-athlete with an athletic scholarship at Life University, just outside Atlanta, Georgia. After two seasons in the Appalachian Conference, in which he distinguished himself by obtaining several awards, from Fall 2024 he decided to move to Kentucky to complete his degree in business and play in the Mid-South Conference.
- Michele Bascapè participated in the first men’s edition of the Showcase in 2021 and in January 2022 he flew overseas for the beginning of his adventure as a student-athlete. He is currently at Roosevelt University (Chicago) on a scholarship for athletic and academic merit.
