It's time for new departures at Sportlinx360. The season has begun and several athletes have flown to the United States to live this important experience of life, sport and study: 8 student-athletes have just started their journey in the States, all volleyball players.
- Silvia Bonsanti, born in 2000, Middle Blocker | Mineral Area College
We want to tell Andrea's story, that is tightly tied to Federico Pagliara's experience, between the United States and the new adventure in England. As always we contacted him for information and details, with the intention of writing our in-depth analysis. His spontaneous words convinced us and we decided to let him tell his story, his experience and above all his emotions. We publish the full text of the email he sent to our press office.
Giorgia Walther is one of the Italian volleyball players who took part to the Global Challenge '19.
An initiative developed by Sportlinx360, in collaboration with Bring It Promotions: the aim is to give an opportunity to athletes to travel around Europe, play volleyball and improve their knowledge of the English language.
Three out of three. An event continuously growing from year to year, from edition to edition. The American College Volleyball Showcase 2019 held between Trevignano Romano and Anguillara from June 10th to 13th, was a success.
"There are many aspects about this country that strucks me. The one surprises me most is the importance given to meritocracy: if you give a lot, you receive a lot and this pushes me to give my best every day. In the academic field I like the professors' availability to help you whenever you need and the workload which is is divided up throughout the semester. The secret is that study and sport in the United States go at the same pace: they go hand in hand and this makes easier managing everything. "
When we talk about playing competitive sports and study in Italy, about student-athletes, it is always a very delicate topic, an almost impossible coexistence, a typical Italian paradox.
A quick interview with Carlotta Cartelli: born in 1997, she is the goalkeeper of the Louisiana Tech University women soccer team. "Charlie", as her teammates call her, tells us about her experience as a student-athlete in the U.S.
Why did you decide to become a student-athlete in an American College?
Everyone knows the stories of the undrafted-turned-pro or breakout redshirt senior year but no-one ever talks about the millions of students that take a lesser known route: junior college to traditional four-year university. The opportunity to learn crucial skills both on and off the playing field, in addition to earning a scholarship and making progress towards your degree is invaluable.
The constant growth and popularity of volleyball and beach volleyball in USA colleges is impressive. Women's volleyball is already one of the most practiced sports in colleges: in the 2018-19 academic year, a total of 1,073 NCAA colleges are sponsoring volleyball teams: 334 of those teams are competing in Division 1, 303 in Division II and 436 in Division 3; NAIA institutions currently sponsor 226 women's volleyball programs along with 456 two-year colleges in the United States.
Our student-athlete Francesca Indoni describes us what happened during the four years she spent in New York, studying and playing volleyball at Queens College.
This is the story of her experience: